SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1982
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REMINDER ON STATUTORY HOLIDAY
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A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (SUNDAY) REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, EITHER THE CHINESE WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL, WHICH FALLS ON DECEMBER 22, OR CHRISTMAS DAY (DECEMBER 25) SHOULD BE APPOINTED A STATUTORY HOLIDAY AND THAT WORKERS MUST BE GIVEN A DAY OFF ON EITHER DAY.
UNDER THE ORDINANCE ALL MANUAL EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING DOMESTIC SERVANTS EMPLOYED LOCALLY OR FROM OVERSEAS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR EARNINGS, AND ALL NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES EARNING NOT MORE THAN $7 500 A MONTH, ARE ENTITLED TO THE HOLIDAY,
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THEY MUST ALSO BE PAID FOR THE DAY-OFF IF THEY HAVE WORKED CONTINUOUSLY FOR THREE MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY.
HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO THE EMPLOYEE'S EARNINGS, OTHER THAN OVERTIME PAY, ON A NORMAL WORKING DAY. WHERE THE EARNINGS VARY FROM DAY TO DAY, HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD BE THE AVERAGE OF THE DAILY EARNINGS DURING A PERIOD OF 28 DAYS PRECEDING THE HOLIDAY. PAYMENT SHOULD BE MADE ON THE NORMAL PAY DAY.
IF AN EMPLOYEE IS REQUIRED TO WORK ON A STATUTORY HOLIDAY, HE MUST BE GIVEN AN ALTERNATIVE DAY-OFF WITHIN 60 DAYS BEFORE OR AFTER THAT DAY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
IF THE ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY IS TO BE GRANTED BEFORE THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY, THE EMPLOYER MUST NOTIFY THE EMPLOYEE 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY.
WHERE AN ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY IS TO BE GIVEN AFTER THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY, THE EMPLOYEE MUST BE NOTIFIED OF THE ARRANGEMENT AT LEAST 48 HOURS BEFORE THE HOLIDAY.
IF BOTH THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE AGREE, ANY DAY WITHIN 30 DAYS OF A STATUTORY HOLIDAY OR ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY MAY BE TAKEN BY THE EMPLOYEE AS A SUBSTITUTED HOLIDAY.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT STATUTORY HOLIDAYS MAY BE MADE WITH THE NEAREST BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE.
THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE 3-205638 FOR KOWLOON EAST; 3-201652 FOR KOWLOON WEST: 3-319454 FOR KOWLOON SOUTH; 3-898520 FOR KWUN TONG: 0-422096 FOR TSUEN WAN: 0-6577111, EXT. 114 FOR TAI PO; 0-818443 FOR TUEN MUN; 5-268671 FOR HONG KONG ISLAND (WEST) AND 5-282213 FOR HONG KONG ISLAND (EAST),
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