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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1983
INCREASE IN PAID SICK LEAVE PROPOSED
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A BILL, WHICH SEEKS TO INCREASE THE RATE OF PAID SICK LEAVE FOR ALL MANUAL WORKERS AND NON-MANUAL WORKERS EARNING NOT MORE THAN $7 500 A MONTH, WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
MOVING THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON NEIL HENDERSON, POINTED OUT THAT THE AMENDMENT LEGISLATION WAS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSAL TO EXTEND SICKNESS BENEFITS FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO MAY BE SICK FOR QUITE A LONG PERIOD.
UNDER THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, HE ADDED, AN EMPLOYEE IS ENTITLED TO ONE DAY'S PAID SICK LEAVE FOR EVERY COMPLETED MONTH OF SERVICE AND THE LEAVE CAN BE ACCUMULATED TO A MAXIMUM OF 36 DAYS.
THE BILL NOW PROPOSES THAT THE LEAVE MAY BE EARNED AT THE RATE OF TWO DAYS A MONTH IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF CONTINUOUS EMPLOYMENT AND FOUR DAYS A MONTH THEREAFTER, AND THAT IT MAY BE ACCUMULATED TO A MAXIMUM OF 120 DAYS.
HOWEVER, AN EMPLOYEE MAY ONLY TAKE UP TO 90 DAYS OF PAID SICK LEAVE DURING ANY ONE SICKNESS IF HE DOES NOT REQUIRE HOSPITALISATION, AND UP TO 120 DAYS IF HOSPITALISATION IS NECESSARY.
THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES TO PROHIBIT THE TERMINATION OF THE SERVICE OF AN EMPLOYEE DURING ANY PERIOD OF PAID SICK LEAVE UNLESS HIS EMPLOYER PAYS HIM WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICS, AN ADDITIONAL SUM EQUAL TO SEVEN DAYS' WAGES AND THE FULL SICKNESS ALLOWANCE TO WHICH HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ENTITLED DURING HIS SICKNESS.
IT ALSO PROPOSES THAT THESE PAYMENTS SHOULD BE MADE WITHIN
SEVEN DAYS OF THE TERMINATION OF HIS SERVICE,
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TILL JULY 27.
COMPUTERS FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIED ****
THE FEASIBILITY OF COMPUTERISING CHECKING PROCEDURES AT IMMIGRATION CONTROL POINTS WAS BEING STUDIED, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON PATRICK WILLIAMSON, SAID TODAY.
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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