FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1982
EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION AMENDMENT BILL PUBLISHED
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AN AMENDMENT BILL, WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, INTRODUCES REVISED PROVISIONS FOR COMPULSORY INSURANCE FOR EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION AND DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF WORK INJURIES AND SEEKS TO IMPROVE PROTECTION FOR EMPLOYEES INJURED AT WORK, WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 ALSO SEEKS TO IMPROVE PROCEDURES FOR THE RECOVERY OF COMPENSATION, TO ENHANCE THE ENFORCEMENT OF AN EMPLOYER'S OBLIGATIONS, AND TO CLARIFY VARIOUS UNCERTAINTIES OR AMBIGUITIES IN THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.
THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN OCTOBER.
MAJOR AMENDMENTS INTRODUCED BY THE BILL ARE AS FOLLOWS:
COMPULSORY INSURANCE
THE BILL REQUIRES AN EMPLOYER TO BE INSURED IN RESPECT OF ALL HIS EMPLOYEES FOR THE FULL AMOUNT OF HIS LIABILITY FOR BOTH COMPENSATION AND DAMAGES IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT AT WORK.
IN THE PLACE OF INSURANCE, AN EMPLOYER MAY OBTAIN A GUARANTEE BY A BANK TO COVER THE FULL AMOUNT OF HIS LIABILITY HE IS REQUIRED TO BE INSURED. IF HE OPTS FOR A BANK GUARANTEE HE MUST DEPOSIT A COPY OF THE GUARANTEE WITH THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR.
AN EMPLOYER WHO EMPLOYS ANYONE WITHOUT AN INSURANCE POLICY OR A BANK GUARANTEE IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF $50 000 IN FINE AND TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT.
AN EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO DISPLAY IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE ON HIS PREMISES A NOTICE CONTAINING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION REGARDING HIS INSURANCE POLICY:
* THE NAME OF THE EMPLOYER ;
* THE NAME OF THE INSURER:
*
THE POLICY NUMBER:
*
THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES INSURED; AND
* THE EXTENT OF THE LIABILITY INSURED.
/THE PENALTY