WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1983
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*ALL DOCTORS ARE AWARE, THAT SUCH FINANCIAL BURDEN PROLONGS AN ILLNESS, WHETHER IT IS DUE TO THE ELEMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS OR OF PHYSICAL STRESS WHICH RESULTS FROM A PREMATURE RETURN TO WORK.
*IN THIS RESPECT, THIS BILL FACILITATES, THE ACCEPTANCE OF DOCTORS' ADVICE ON TREATMENT AND REST AS IT NOW BECOMES FINANCIALLY AND PRACTICALLY POSSIBLE TO DO SO, SHE SAID.
DR IP POINTED OUT THAT THE BILL HAD ASCENDED THE STATUS OF ANY DOCTOR REGISTRABLE IN HONG KONG.
DOCTORS WERE NOW GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE TO RECOMMEND AND THEN TO BE ACCEPTED BY LAW A TOTAL OF 120 DAYS SICK LEAVE, WITH TWO-THIRDS PAY, TO ANY ILL WORKER, SHE SAID.
ORDINANCE WAGE CEILING NOW $8 500
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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON APPROVED A MOTION TO RAISE THE WAGE CEILING FOR NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES IN THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE FROM $7 500 TO $8 500.
MOVING THE MOTION, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON RON BRIDGE, POINTED OUT THAT THE CEILING WAS BEING REVISED DUE TO AN INCREASE IN NOMINAL WAGES.
HE RECALLED THAT IN 1980 THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD SUGGESTED THAT THE WAGE CEILING SHOULD BE REVIEWED ANNUALLY AND THAT IT SHOULD BE REVISED WHERE NECESSARY.
THE LAST REVISION WAS IN MAY 1982 WHEN THE CEILING WAS RAISED FROM $6 000 TO $7 500.
MR BRIDGE POINTED OUT THAT A REVIEW MADE LAST MONTH INDICATED THAT THE MONTHLY LEVEL OF $7 500 IN MARCH 1982 WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO $8 200 IN MARCH THIS YEAR.
NOMINAL WAGES HAD CONTINUED TO INCREASE SINCE THEN,
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AND IT COULD BE ASSUMED THAT BY THIS MONTH A MONTHLY WAGE LEVEL OF $8 500 WAS EQUIVALENT TO $7 500 PER MONTH IN MAY 1982, HE ADDED.
IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT AFTER THE REVISION, ABOUT TWO PER CENT OF EMPLOYEES WOULD REMAIN OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, MR BRIDGE SAID.
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