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FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1988
THE NEW LAW FURTHER COVERS NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES WHOSE WAGES DO NOT EXCEED THE $11,500 WAGE CEILING A MONTH WITHIN THE 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO DISMISSAL, AS WELL AS RE-EMPLOYMENT AFTER RETIREMENT.
ENQUIRIES ON THE NEW LEGISLATION MAY BE MADE TO ANY BRANCH OFFICES OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE.
EMPLOYMENT DOCUMENTS CHECK BEFORE YOU SIGN
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) ADVISED YOUNG PERSONS SEEKING A SALES JOB TO BE ON THE ALERT WHEN ASKED TO SIGN ANY AGREEMENT OR DOCUMENTS AT THE TIME OF ENGAGEMENT.
THE PLEA WAS MADE FOLLOWING THE RECEIPT OF A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS BY THE DEPARTMENT FROM SOME INSURANCE SALES PERSONNEL THAT THEY HAD BEEN MISLED INTO BELIEVING THAT THEY WERE HIRED AS EMPLOYEES OF THE COMPANIES AND THAT THE ADVANCED COMMISSION THEY WERE THEIR MONTHLY SALARY,
"HOWEVER, UPON RESIGNATION AFTER AN UNSUCCESSFUL TRIAL THEY WERE ASKED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANIES THEY WORKED FOR BACK A LARGE SUM OF MONEY,' A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
PAID WAS
PERIOD, TO PAY
THE
"ONLY THEN DID THEY DISCOVER THAT BY SIGNING THE VOLUMINOUS DOCUMENTS AT THE TIME OF FIRST ENGAGEMENT, THEY HAD FORFEITED ALL PROTECTIONS A NORMAL EMPLOYEE WAS ENTITLED TO UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.
F
THE SPOKESMAN CALLED ON JOB SEEKERS TO EXAMINE VERY CAREFULLY ANY AGREEMENT OR DOCUMENTS THEY ARE ASKED TO SIGN.
IN PARTICULAR, THEY SHOULD MAKE SURE WHETHER THEY WRRE то BE EMPLOYED AS A PAID EMPLOYEE UNDER A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT OR AS AN AGENT UNDER AN AGENCY AGREEMENT.
THE
"THIS IS BECAUSE ONCE THEY HAVE SIGNED AN AGENCY AGREEMENT, THEY ARE NOT REGARDED AS EMPLOYEES OF THE COMPANY AND ARE OUTSIDE PROTECTION OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, HE SAID.
F
PROSPECTIVE JOB SEEKERS SHOULD ALSO FIND OUT WHETHER THE MONEY PAID TO HIM EVERY MONTH IN THE FORM OF ADVANCED COMMISSION IS IN FACT A SALARY WHICH NEEDS NOT TO BE RETURNED, OR A LOAN WHICH HAS ΤΟ BE PAID BACK TO THE COMPANY UPON RESIGNATION OR DISMISSAL.
"IF IN DOUBT, JOB SEEKERS SHOULD SEEK ADVICE FROM THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
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