FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1993
"THESE INCLUDE ADJUSTING THE MAXIMUM LEVEL OF COMPENSATION UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE TO INCREASE THE BENEFITS PAYABLE TO INJURED EMPLOYEES AND DEPENDANTS OF DECEASED WORKERS, ** MRS FOK SAID.
"EIGHT ADDITIONAL DISEASES ARE ALSO BEING PROPOSED TO BECOME COMPENSABLE UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, MAKING A TOTAL OF 44.
"MEANWHILE, THE OCCUPATIONAL NOISE-INDUCED HRARING LOSS COMPENSATION SCHEME IS ALSO EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED LATER THIS YEAR TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION TO THOSE PERSONS WHO SUFFER FROM HEARING DUE TO THEIR NATURE OF WORK.
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"FOR PERSONS SUFFERING FROM PNEUMOCONIOSIS, A BILL PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION} ORDINANCE WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN MARCH PROPOSING MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF COMPENSATION TO BE PAID TO PNEUMOCONIOSIS SUFFERERS UNTIL THEIR DEATH, SHE ADDED.
IN THE AREA OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, THE LABOUR COMMISSIONER POINTED OUT THAT AMENDMENTS WILL BE MADE ΤΟ THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (SUSPENDED WORK FLATFORMS) REGULATION AND THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (LIFTING APPLIANCES AND LIFTING GEAR) REGULATION TO PROVIDE FOR BETTER STANDARDS ON THE SAFE USE OF SUSPENDED WORK PLATFORMS AND LIFTING APPLIANCES.
MRS FOK NOTED THAT TWO PIECES OF NEW LABOUR LEGISLATION AND 15 PIECES OF AMENDMENT LEGISLATION WERE ENACTED LAST YEAR.
"TO DISCOURAGE EXPLOITATION OF WORKERS, THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR WAGE DEDUCTION AND UNDERPAYMENT OF WAGES UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WAS INCREASED TENFOLD ΤΟ $100,000 AND $200,000 RESPECTIVELY, MRS FOX SAID.
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"THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND THE FACTORY AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE WERE AMENDED TO PROVIDE FOR PROTECTION AGAINST VICTIMISATION OF WORKERS WHO GIVE INFORMATION OR EVIDENCE ABOUT WORK ACCIDENTS.
"WE ALSO EFFECTED CHANGES TO THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION SYSTEM TO PROVIDE FOR DIRECT SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS IN MINOR INJURY CASES," SHE ADDED.
REGARDING SERVICES BEING PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT, MRS FOK SAID THE GENERAL ENQUIRY TELEPHONE SERVICE, WHICH WAS ENHANCED LAST YEAR, HANDLED 172,500 PUBLIC ENQUIRIES ON THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS, THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY ORDINANCE, THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, AND MATTERS RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS.
"THIS REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF NEARLY 150 PER CENT OF CALLS HANDLED AS COMPARED WITH 1991, SHE SAID.
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