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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1983
FURTHERMORE, DURING ANY PERIOD OF PAID SICK LEAVE, A WORKER MAY NOT BE DISMISSED BY HIS EMPLOYER UNLESS HE IS PAID WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE, AN ADDITIONAL SUM EQUAL TO SEVEN DAYS' WAGES, AND THE SICKNESS ALLOWANCE TO WHICH HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ENTITLED DURING HIS ILLNESS. THE EMPLOYER WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAKE THESE PAYMENTS WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF TERMINATING THE CONTRACT OR HE MAY BE FINED $5 000.
THE ALLOWANCE PAYABLE FOR THIS SICK LEAVE IS EQUIVALENT TO TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAGES A SICK EMPLOYEE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED HAD HE BEEN AT WORK, AND IS PAYABLE EITHER FOR THE PERIOD OF ACCUMULATED SICK LEAVE, OR FOR THE PERIOD OF LEAVE CERTIFIED AS NECESSARY BY A DOCTOR, IF THIS IS SHORTER.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PROPOSAL, BY EXTENDING PAID SICK LEAVE TO UP TO FOUR MONTHS, WOULD PROVIDE A SAFEGUARD FOR WORKERS WHO MAY BE ILL FOR QUITE LONG PERIODS AND ARE UNABLE TO WORK. THE FASTER RATE FOR ACCUMULATING PAID SICK LEAVE ENTITLEMENT WOULD BE OF BENEFIT TO ALL WORKERS.
THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JULY 13 AND ITS THIRD READING IS EXPECTED 'ON JULY 27.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THE BILL CAN WRITE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, AT PRINCE'S BUILDING, ROOMS 1320-1323, CHATER ROAD, HONG KONG.
NEW LAWS FOR ELECTRICAL TRADE PLANNED
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NEW LEGISLATION TO RAISE THE STANDARDS OF THE ELECTRICAL TRADE AND TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY COULD BE ENACTED WITHIN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS, THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES, MR GRAHAM OSBORNE, SAID TODAY.
AT THE MOMENT, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING ALL THE NECESSARY CONSULTATIVE MACHINERIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DRAFTING THE NEW LEGISLATION.
MR OSBORNE WAS SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS' ASSOCIATION.
HE RECALLED THAT SINCE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE STEPS TO INTRODUCE NEW LEGISLATION TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE ELECTRICAL TRADE, HIS DEPARTMENT HAD RECEIVED REPRESENTATIONS AND QUERIES FROM VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS, CONTRACTORS AND INDIVIDUALS EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERN.
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