20
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1984
HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO AN EMPLOYEE'S EARNINGS ON A NORMAL WORKING DAY AND SHOULD INCLUDE BASIC WAGES AS WELL AS ALLOWANCES THAT CAN BE EXPRESSED IN MONEY TERMS, SUCH AS MEALS AND COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCES.
WHERE THE EARNINGS VARY FROM DAY TO DAY, HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD BE THE AVERAGE DAILY EARNINGS DURING THE PERIOD OF 28 DAYS PRECEDING THE HOLIDAY.
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.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT STATUTORY HOLIDAYS MAY BE MADE TO THE NEAREST BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE.
BILLS CLARIFY RESPONSIBILITY
****
PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY ARE THREE BILLS WHICH SEEK TO CLARIFY THAT THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS THE RESPONSIBLE BODY FOR ENSURING THAT BUILDINGS HAVE ADEQUATE MEANS OF ESCAPE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT PROVISIONS RELATING TO MEANS OF ESCAPE FROM BUILDINGS, PRESCRIBED IN A CODE OF PRACTICE ADMINISTERED BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY, ALSO APPEAR IN THE FIRE SERVICES ORDINANCE, THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE AND THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE.
TO REDUCE THIS OVERLAP OF LEGAL AUTHORITY AND TO CLEARLY DEFINE THE AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED, AMENDMENTS TO THE THREE ORDINANCES ARE NOW PROPOSED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR LICENCES UNDER THE RELEVANT ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED.
+FURTHERMORE, PUBLIC SAFETY WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THESE AMENDMENTS,+ HE SAID.
THE FIRE SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 AND THE EDUCATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 ARE EXPECTED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.
ANY COMMENT SHOULD BE SENT IN WRITING TO UMELCO AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, CENTRAL OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
-
/21