WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1980
19
WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION LEVELS TO BE ADJUSTED
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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT INTENDS TO REVIEW EVERY TWO YEARS THE LEVELS OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CHANGES IN WAGE LEVELS AND THE COST OF LIVING,
TO FACILITATE FUTURE ADJUSTMENTS, THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980, WHICH WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, PROVIDES THAT THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF COMPENSATION MAY BE AMENDED BY RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL.
DISCLOSING THIS IN THE COUNCIL, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON J.N. HENDERSON, POINTED OUT THAT THE NEW LEVELS OF COMPENSATION PROPOSED BY THE BILL WERE IN FACT HIGHER THAN THOSE ORIGINALLY RECOMMENDED BY A WORKING PARTY IN 1978, HAVING BEEN ADJUSTED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE INCREASES IN WAGES AND COST OF LIVING WHICH OCCURRED DURING 1978/79.
+NEVERTHELESS, IF HONOURABLE MEMBERS CONSIDER THAT THEY ARE STILL ON THE LOW SIDE AND WISH TO ADJUST THEM FURTHER TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE INCREASES WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE DURING 1979/80, I SHOULD BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER DOING THIS AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE.
+ON THE WHOLE I CONSIDER THAT THERE IS A CASE FOR DOING THIS, PARTICULARLY IN VIEW OF THE TIME NECESSARY TO BRING THE BILL INTO FORCE.+
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR HENDERSON SAID THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE WORKING PARTY WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN TWO STAGES.
THE FIRST STAGE WAS THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH NEEDED TO BE IMPLEMENTED URGENTLY. THEY INCLUDED THE EXTENSION OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION TO ALL EMPLOYEES, INCREASED LEVELS OF COMPENSATION, PAYMENT FOR REPAIR AND RENEWAL OF PROSTHESES AND SURGICAL ́APPLIANCES AND REVISION OF THE FIRST SCHEDULE IN THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE DEALT WITH BY FURTHER LEGISLATION IN THE SECOND STAGE. THESE WOULD INVOLVE THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSORY INSURANCE, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TWO-TIER EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION BOARD. MEASURES TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESSING OF COMPENSATION CASES AND VARIOUS OTHER AMENDMENTS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE.
MR HENDERSON DISCLOSED THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAD RECENTLY APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSOR Y INSURANCE.
+ I HOPE TO INTRODUCE THE FURTHER LEGISLATION INTO THIS COUNCIL DURING THE 1980/81 SESSION, HE ADDED.
'OMKIS...