WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1981
LEAVE TAKEN IN CONNECTION WITH MISCARRIAGES SHOULD BE TREATED AS SICK LEAVE RATHER THAN MATERNITY LEAVE- AND DAYS OFF FOR PREGNANCY CHECK-UPS OR POST CONFINEMENT MEDICAL TREATMENT SHOULD ALSO BE REGARDED AS SICK LEAVE.
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OF A WOMAN EMPLOYEE IN CONNECTION WITH MATERNITY SHOULD BE MADE AN OFFENCE AND IF CONVICTED AN EMPLOYER SHOULD BE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $5 000,
IN ADDITION, A WOMAN EMPLOYEE SHOULD BE PAID FULL MATERNITY BENEFITS FOR THE WHOLE OF HER PAID MATERNITY LEAVE PERIOD IF SHE IS DISMISSED BEFORE THE EXPIRY OF THE LEAVE.
IN ORDER TO GIVE EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES SUFFICIENT TIME TO MAKE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS TO COMPLY WITH THESE CHANGES IN THE LAW, MR HENDERSON PROPOSED THAT THE PAID MATERNITY LEAVE LEGISLATION SHOULD COME INTO OPERATION ON JUNE 1 THIS YEAR BY NOT IF ICATION IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY FINES INCREASED
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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED FIVE SETS OF AMENDMENT INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REGULATIONS WHICH PROVIDE FOR INCREASED MAXIMUM FINES RANGING FROM $5 000 TO $50 000.
THEY ARE THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1981, THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (CONFINED SPACES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1981, THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (LIFTING APPLIANCES AND LIFTING GEAR) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1981, THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1981, AND THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1981.
IN SEEKING APPROVAL OF THE REGULATIONS, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON J.N. HENDERSON, RECALLED THAT LAST AUGUST THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT}{NO. 2) ORDINANCE 1980 WHICH RAISED THE MAXIMUM PENALTY THAT MAY BE PROVIDED IN ANY REGULATIONS MADE UNDER IT TO $50 000.
+WHEN I INTRODUCED THAT BILL I SAID THAT THIS WOULD ENABLE THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE TO ANALYSE AND GRADE THE OFFENCES WITH APPROPRIATE MAXIMUM PENALTIES DEPENDING ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF A BREACH OF EACH PARTICULAR REGULATION, HE NOTED.
MR HENDERSON SAID THERE ARE 19 SETS OF SAFETY REGULATIONS MADE UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE, AND AS A RESULT OF THE ANALYSIS BY THE INSPECTORATE, HE HAD RAISED THE PENALTIES IN FIVE SETS WHICH HE CONSIDERED TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT AND MOST URGENTLY IN NEED OF AMENDMENT.
/THE REVIEW