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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1989
"IF CONCILIATION DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE CASE IS REFERRED TO THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL.
"IF THE EMPLOYERS ARE INSOLVENT, WAGES IN ARREARS, WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE AND SEVERANCE PAYMENTS OWED TO EMPLOYEES ARE PREFERENTIAL DEBTS UNDER THE COMPANIES AND BANKRUPTCY ORDINANCES.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, IF THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A CRIMINAL OFFENCE, APPROPRIATE ACTION COULD BE TAKEN UNDER THE CRIMINAL LAW.
**IN ALL CASES, THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT IS AVAILABLE ΤΟ EMPLOYEES WHO MAY WISH ΤΟ PURSUE ANY CLAIMS AGAINST A DEFAULTING EMPLOYER," HE ADDED.
MR BRIDGE SAID EMPLOYEES MIGHT ALSO RECEIVE HELP UNDER THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY ORDINANCE, WHICH AT PRESENT COVERED WAGES IN ARREARS AND WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE.
"WITHIN THE CURRENT SESSION I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE A BILL INTO THIS COUNCIL TO EXTEND THE SCOPE OF THE ORDINANCE TO COVER SEVERANCE PAY," HE ADDED.
BENEFITS OF TRADING FUND' SYSTEM BEING EXAMINED
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TO
BE
IT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT TO SEEK CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE 30 THAT WORK CAN CARRIED OUT IN THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE MANNER, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON TAM YIU-CHUNG, WHO HAD ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT PLANNED TO PUT SOME DEPARTMENTS UNDER A "TRADING FUND" ACCOUNTING SYSTEM WHEREBY SUCH DEPARTMENTS WOULD IMPOSE CHARGES ON SERVICES PROVIDED TO OTHER USER DEPARTMENTS.
MR JACOBS SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF EXAMINING THE BENEFITS OF INTRODUCING A TRADING FUND ACCOUNTING SYSTEM IN SOME OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS.
TRADING FUNDS, 1F INTRODUCED, SHOULD HELP RAISE THE COST CONSCIOUSNESS OF CIVIL SERVANTS IN SECURING SERVICES FROM OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS,
'ALTHOUGH DEPARTMENTS WITH TRADING FUND ACCOUNTS SHOULD HAVE GREATER FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY THAN TRADITIONAL DEPARTMENTS, THEIR STAFF WOULD REMAIN PART OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND SUBJECT TO ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS, HE POINTED OUT.
DONE
"THERE IS STILL A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF WORK TO BE BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER TRADING FUNDS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, AND WE WILL NOT EMBARK UPON ANY MAJOR CHANGE BEFORE THE ISSUES CONCERNED HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY CONSIDERED."
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