TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1983
12
REMINDER ON STATUTORY HOLIDAY
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A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (TUESDAY) REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, NEW YEAR'S DAY (JANUARY 1) IS A STATUTORY HOLIDAY FOR ALL MANUAL EMPLOYEES AND THOSE NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES EARNING NOT MORE THAN $8 500 A MONTH.
AS NEW YEAR'S DAY FALLS ON SUNDAY, EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE GIVEN A HOLIDAY ON THE FOLLOWING DAY (JANUARY 2), IF THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY HAPPENS TO BE THE IR NORMAL REST DAY.
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, THE SPOKESMAN CONTINUED, HE MUST BE GIVEN AN ALTERNATIVE DAY-OFF WITHIN 60 DAYS BEFORE OR AFTER THAT DAY.
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. IN THE CASE 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 EMPLOYER AND 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 TO THE NEAREST BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE.
KOWLOON
THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE FOR KOWLOON EAST 3-205638 WEST 3-201652 KOWLOON SOUTH 3-319454 KWUN TONG 3-898520 TSUEN WAN 0-422096 TAI PO 0-6577111 EXT. 114 TUEN MUN 0-818443 HONG KONG ISLAND (WEST) 5-268671 AND HONG KONG ISLAND (EAST) 5-282213.
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