TUESDAY, AUGUST 11,
HK KEEPS UP WITH COMPENSATION STANDARDS
HONG KONG HAD ACHIEVED INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS IN THE = OF EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION, THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR LABO WR DARWIN CHEN, SAID TODAY' (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE ACTUARIAL ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG, HE SAID COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATION AND STREAMLINE" ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES HAD MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR HONG KONG TO APPLY FULLY THREE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONVENTIONS WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AGRICULTURE), EQUALITY OF TREATMENT (ACCIDENT COMPENSATION) AND WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES).
IN ADDITION, MR CHEN SAID, HONG KONG WAS ALSO ABLE TO COMPLY WITH MOST OF THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (ACCIDENTS) CONVENTION.
HE SAID THAT IN HONG KONG, PROVISIONS OF COMPENSATION FOR PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH CAUSED BY ACCIDENT OR OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES ARISING OUT OF AND IN THE COURSE OF EMPLOYMENT WERE EMBODIED IN THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE IN GENERAL. AND IN THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION ORDINANCE IN PARTICULAR.
BUT THERE WAS STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE EXISTING SYSTEM, HE SAID.
+FOR EXAMPLE, SOME EMPLOYEES STILL HAVE TO BRING THEIR CASES TO THE COURTS AND ARE THUS REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH A SERIES OF COSTLY AND TIME-CONSUMING LEGAL PROCEEDINGS,+ HE SAID.
THERE HAD ALSO BEEN COMPLAINTS FROM EMPLOYERS. WHO WERE REQUIRED TO INSURE AGAINST THEIR FULL LIABILITIES FOR COMPENSATION UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE AND FOR DAMAGES
IN CIVIL LITIGATION, THAT THE PREMIA CHARGED BY SOME INSURERS WERE UNDULY HIGH, WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF NO-CLAIM REDUCTIONS.
HE SAID: +WE ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THE SITUATION AND IF NEED ARISES, WE SHALL CONSIDER FURTHER CHANGES TO OUR SYSTEM IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE HIGHER COST EFFECTIVENESS, SPEEDIER SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS AND. PERHAPS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT. STRONGER MOTIVATION TO FOLLOW GOOD SAFETY PRACTICES IN WORKPLACES.
+PREVENTION OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES MUST BE OUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE, BUT ACCIDENTS DO OCCUR AND THE PROVISION OF AN EFFICIENT SYSTEM OF COMPENSATION THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF A FAST-CHANGING SOCIETY SUCH AS OURS IS THEREFORE ALSO AN IMPORTANT TASK.-
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MR CHEN ADDED THAT IN CARRYING OUT THE TASK SUCCESSFULLY THE GOVERNMENT NEEDED THE SUPPORT AND ADVICE OF THE COMMUNITY. PARTICULARLY FROM PROFESSIONALS WITH RELEVANT EXPERIENCE, SUCH AS MEMBERS OF THE ACTUARIAL ASSOCIATION.
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