WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1981
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STRICTER ENFORCEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION TRAINING LEVY
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AN AMENDMENT BILL WHICH PROPOSES TO IMPOSE A PENALTY FOR THE LATE PAYMENT OF THE CONSTRUCTION TRAINING LEVY AND TO ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION RELATING TO LEVIABLE CONSTRUCTION WORKS TO THIRD PARTIES, WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON J.N. HENDERSON.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY)(AMENDMENT) BILL 1981, ME SAID THE AMENDMENTS HAD BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE AUTHORITY.
THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY) ORDINANCE, MR HENDERSON EXPLAINED, STIPULATES THAT THE PAYMENT OF THE LEVÝ OR SURCHARGE MUST BE MADE WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THE CONTRACTORS RECEIVING NOTIFICATION FROM THE AUTHORITY, BUT DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR A PENALTY FOR LATE PAYMENT.
+THIS HAS LED NOT ONLY TO THE AUTHORITY LOSING INTEREST INCOME BUT ALSO TO IT INCURRING HIGHER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.
+THE AUTHORITY HAS ACCORDINGLY RECOMMENDED THE INCLUSION OF A PROVISION FOR A PENALTY FOR THE LATE PAYMENT OF A LEVY OR A SURCHARGE AS WELL AS A FURTHER PENALTY WHERE THE LEVY OR SURCHARGE IS STILL OUTSTANDING THREE MONTHS AFTER THE EXPIRY OF THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD,+ MR HENDERSON SAID.
THE PROPOSED INITIAL PENALTY IS FIVE PER CENT OF THE UNPAID LEVY OR SURCHARGE AND THE FURTHER PENALTY IS FIVE PER CENT OF THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING SUM.
THE AUTHORITY, IN ORDER TO PREVENT EVASION OF THE LEVY, MAY WISH IN THE FUTURE TO EMPLOY PROFESSIONAL QUANTITY SURVEYORS TO CHECK THE VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORKS WHERE IT SUSPECTS SUCH VALUE TO HAVE BEEN UNDERSTATED, HE ADDED.
HOWEVER THE ORDINANCE STATES THAT THE CONSENT OF THE PERSON PROVIDING THE INFORMATION MUST BE OBTAINED BEFORE SUCH INFORMATION COULD BE DISCLOSED TO THIRD PARTIES.
THE BILL, THEREFORE, ALSO AMENDS THE ORDINANCE TO REMOVE THE NEED FOR OBTAINING SUCH CONSENT SO THAT THE PROCESS OF CHECKING CAN BE EXPEDITED, MR HENDERSON SAID.
THE AMENDMENT ALSO ALLOWS THE AUTHORITY TO DISCLOSE RELEVANT INFORMATION TO THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND BOARD TO ASSIST THE BOARD IN THE ASSESSMENT OF THE LEVY FOR THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND.
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