FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1982
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EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WAGE CEILING RAISED
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THE WAGE CEILING FOR NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES COVERED BY THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE HAS BEEN RAISED FROM $6 000 TO $7 500 A MONTH WITH EFFECT FROM TODAY (FRIDAY), ACCORDING TO A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
A RESOLUTION TO RAISE THE WAGE CEILING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY AFTER BEING APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY.
THE CEILING WAS RAISED FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF THE WAGE CEILING, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE MONTHLY WAGE LEVEL OF $6 000 IN SEPTEMBER 1980 WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO AROUND $7 500 IN MARCH 1982.
IN ADDITION, THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1982, WHICH PROVIDES AN ADDITIONAL STATUTORY HOLIDAY IN THE FORM OF A FLOATING HOLIDAY WAS ALSO PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE FOLLOWING ITS PASSAGE THROUGH THE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY.
THE AMENDING ORDINANCE WILL, HOWEVER, COME INTO OPERATION ON JANUARY 1, 1983, AND BY THEN THE NUMBER OF STATUTORY HOLIDAYS WILL BE INCREASED FROM 10 TO 11.
FEE AID SCHEME FOR PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES
TO ASSIST LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
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THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED DETAILS OF THE NEW FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME DESIGNED TO ASSIST PARENTS TO MEET THE COST OF SENDING THE IR PRE-SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN TO DAY NURSERIES OR KINDERGARTENS.
THE SCHEME, ONE OF THE PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THE 1981 WHITE PAPER ON PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES, WILL COME INTO BEING THIS SEPTEMBER AND REFLECTS A NEW, MORE CO-ORDINATED APPROACH TO THE PROVISION OF GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES TO FACILITATE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SERVICES.
SERVICES TO CHILDREN BELOW PRIMARY SCHOOL AGE FALL INTO TWO MAIN CATEGORIES : CHILD CARE CENTRES WHICH ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE AND KINDERGARTENS WHICH ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE.
ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF THE NEW FEE ASSISTANCE ARRANGEMENTS TODAY, THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION, MR KEN WOODHOUSE, SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION, ON THE ONE HAND, TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF GOOD QUALITY DAY NURSERY AND KINDERGARTEN SERVICES BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, TO ENSURE THAT NO FAMILY IS PREVENTED FROM SENDING THEIR CHILD TO A NURSERY OR KINDERGARTEN BECAUSE THEY HAVE INSUFFICIENT MEANS.
WHILST ACKNOWLEDGING