SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 1989
"THE PRODUCTION OF A
HOKLAS-ENDORSED CERTIFICATE MIGHT ALSO PROVE TO ONE'S ADVANTAGE SHOULD MANUFACTURERS BE FACED WITH A PRODUCT LIABILITY LAW SUIT IN FUTURE."
HOKLAS IS A VOLUNTARY, PRODUCT-BASED SCHEME, OPBN ΤΟ ANY LABORATORY THAT PERFORMS OBJECTIVE TESTING, FALLING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE SCHEME AND MEETING THE HOKLAS CRITERIA OF COMPETENCE.
HORLAS WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED IN MAY 1985 WITH THE PRINCIPAL AIM OF UPGRADING THE STANDARD OF TESTING AND MANAGEMENT OF LABORATORIES IN HONG KONG AND то PROVIDE ACCREDITED LABORATORIES WITH OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF THEIR COMPETENCE.
IT WAS ALSO DEVELOPED WITH PRIORITY GIVEN TO THE ACCREDITATION OF TESTING SERVICES SUPPORTING THE MANUFACTURING-FOR-EXPORT SECTOR OF INDUSTRY.
THE SCHEME HAS, HOWEVER, EXPANDED ITS SCOPE ΤΟ ADDRESS THE OVERALL TESTING NEEDS OF THE TERRITORY.
SENIOR STAFF OF HOKLAS AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TESTING AUTHORITIES, AUSTRALIA (NATA) HAVE ALSO RECENTLY ASSESSED EACH OTHER'S SCHEMES WITH A VIEW TO CONCLUDING
AN MOU. NEGOTIATIONS ARE CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS.
UNDUE DEDUCTION OF WAGES PROHIBITED
* *
DEDUCT THE
EMPLOYERS ARE REMINDED THAT THEY SHOULD NOT UNDULY WAGES OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AGAINST THE PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, OTHERWISE THEY MAY BE PROSECUTED.
THIS FOLLOWS A RECENT COURT CASE IN WHICH THE OWNER OF A BOUTIQUE WAS FINED $2,000 BY A WESTERN MAGISTRATE FOR DEDUCTING THE WAGES OF A SALESGIRL WHO RESIGNED.
ALTHOUGH THE CASE WAS EARLIER SETTLED AT THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL, PROSECUTION WAS TAKEN OUT AGAINST THE EMPLOYER WHO ILLEGALLY DEDUCTED $1,385 FROM THE WAGES OF THE EMPLOYEE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, DEDUCTIONS MAY ONLY BE MADE FOR ABSENCE FROM WORK, FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION SUPPLIED BY THE EMPLOYER, DAMAGE TO OR LOSS OF THE EMPLOYER'S GOODS OR PROPERTY UP TO A LIMIT OF $300, AND FOR THE RECOVERY OF ANY ADVANCE OR OVER-PAYMENT OF WAGES OR LOANS.
"MOREOVER, THE TOTAL OF ALL DEDUCTIONS MADE IN ANY ONE WAGE PERIOD, EXCEPT THOSE FOR ABSENCE FROM WORK, MUST NOT EXCEED ONE HALF OF THE WAGES PAYABLE.
"ANY EMPLOYER GUILTY OF THE OFFENCE WILL BR LIABLE, CONVICTION, TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $10,000," THE SPOKESMAN WARNED.
ON
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