FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1985
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BILL TO IMPROVE COMPENSATION SYSTEM
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THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985 WHICH SEEKS TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A SIMPLIFIED SYSTEM FOR THE RECOVERY OF COMPENSATION BY EMPLOYEES, WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
UNDER THE SIMPLIFIED SYSTEM INTRODUCED IN 1982, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR WAS GIVEN THE POWER TO ASSESS THE COMPENSATION PAYABLE IN RESPECT OF AN INJURY TO AN EMPLOYEE WHICH RESULTED IN TEMPORARY INCAPACITY FOR A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING 14 DAYS.
THE COMMISSIONER COULD ISSUE A CERTIFICATE REQUIRING PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION BY THE EMPLOYER WITHIN 21 DAYS, EXCEPT WHERE AN APPEAL HAD BEEN LODGED AGAINST THE ASSESSMENT.
THIS SIMPLIFIED SYSTEM OBVIATED DELAYS IN PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION DUE TO DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE AS TO THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION PAYABLE, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE SAID THE SYSTEM HAD BEEN WIDELY WELCOMED BY BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION.
THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL, HE ADDED, WAS TO EXTEND THIS SYSTEM TO COVER ALL CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION FOR INJURIES WHICH RESULTED IN TEMPORARY INCAPACITY.
INJURIES CAUSING PERMANENT INCAPACITY WOULD, HOWEVER, CONTINUE TO BE DEALT WITH BY THE TWO-TIER COMPENSATION BOARD SYSTEM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
OTHER MAJOR AMENDMENTS IN THE BILL ARE TO EMPOWER THE ORDINARY AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENT BOARDS TO REVIEW ASSESSMENTS OF COMPENSATION ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE, AND ALSO TO ENABLE THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR TO APPLY TO THE BOARDS FOR A REVIEW OF AN ASSESSMENT.
AT PRESENT. THE SPOKESMAN SAID, THE BOARDS' DECISIONS COULD ONLY BE REVIEWED ON APPEAL BY EITHER THE INJURED EMPLOYEE OR HIS EMPLOYER.
OTHER AMENDMENTS CONTAINED IN THE BILL INCLUDED THE PROVISIONS TO ENABLE THE ASSESSMENT BOARDS TO CERTIFY ANY PERIOD OF ABSENCE FROM DUTY BY AN INJURED EMPLOYEE AS PERIODS OF TEMPORARY INCAPACITY FOR COMPENSATION PURPOSES: AND THE APPOINTMENT OF A SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER AS A MEMBER OF AN ORDINARY ASSESSMENT BOARD IN PLACE OF A LABOUR OFFICER.
THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR FIRST READING AND COMMENCEMENT OF SECOND READING ON MAY 29.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE BILL MAY BE SENT TO UMELCO AT SWIRE HOUSE 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, AT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD.
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