WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1993
PROPOSED CENTRAL COMPENSATION FUND A STEP BACKWARDS
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TO
THE GOVERNMENT IS FAR FROM STANDING STILL WHEN IT COMES GIVING BETTER PROTECTION TO INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT VICTIMS, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, SAID.
MR LEUNG POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN WORKING HARD ΤΟ MAKE SURE THAT EMPLOYEES' INTERESTS UNDER THE LAW WERE WELL PROTECTED.
RECENT EXAMPLES
OF IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE ENHANCEMENT OF THE MAXIMUM LEVELS OF EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION, IMPROVEMENT TO THE SCHEDULE FOR ASSESSMENT OF PERMANENT INCAPACITY, AND A NEW PROVISION TO ENABLE EMPLOYEES ΤΟ MAKE DIRECT CLAIMS AGAINST AN INSURER UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
IN ADDITION, THE LIST OF COMPENSATORY OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES HAS BEEN EXPANDED, AND A LOAN SCHEME HAS BEEN SET UP BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ΤΟ INJURED EMPLOYEES AND DEPENDENTS OF DECEASED EMPLOYEES WHO MAY BE IN HARDSHIP AS A RESULT OF WORK ACCIDENTS.
MR LEUNG WAS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT DURING THE MOTION DEBATE ON EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
TWO
AT PRESENT, THE EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION SYSTEM IS UNDERPINNED BY STATUTES:
THE EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION ORDINANCE AND THE
PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.
THE FORMER OPERATES ON THE CONCEPT OF INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYER LIABILITY WHERE ALL EMPLOYERS ARE REQUIRED TO INSURE THEIR LIABILITIES WITH AUTHORISED INSURERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
BY CONTRAST, THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION ORDINANCE OPERATES ON A COLLECTIVE LIABILITY BASIS WHERE COMPENSATION IS CHARGED TO A LEVY PAID BY THE QUARRYING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES.
UNDER THE HOW A CENTRAL
WHILE AGREEING THAT THERE WAS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT PRESENT SYSTEM, THE SECRETARY SAID HE FAILED TO SEE COMPENSATION SYSTEM WOULD FUNCTION BETTER.
TE
"WE MUST NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE OF RUSHING TO A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE ΤΟ THE SYSTEM, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS NOT PERFECT, MR LEUNG STATED. "SUCH A MISTAKE COULD HAVE SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS AND COULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAKE GOOD LATER.
"UNLESS AND UNTIL THERE IS CLEAR PROOF THAT THE PRESENT SYSTEM FAILS TO ACHIEVE THE PURPOSE IT IS INTENDED, WHICH IS DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE AT PRESENT, THE ADMINISTRATION IS OF THE VIEW THAT WE SHOULD NOT TAKE SUCH A DRASTIC STEP AS PROPOSED IN THE MOTION.
DEFICIENCIES UNDER THE ANSWERED POINT BY POINT:
DURING THE DEBATE, MEMBERS HAD
EXISTING SYSTEM,
POINTED TO A NUMBER OF FOR WHICH THE SECRETARY
/ON INSURANCE