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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1993
MORE WAGE PROTECTION FOR WORKERS
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS PROPOSED TO AMEND THE LAW TO EMPOWER THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND (PWIF) BOARD TO RECOVER FROM A RETIREMENT SCHEME ANY EX-GRATIA SEVERANCE PAYMENT MADE BY THE FUND TO AN EMPLOYER COVERED BY SUCH A SCHEME.
THE PROPOSAL, WHICH WAS SET OUT IN THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1993, HAS RECENTLY BEEN ENDORSED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL AND WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR ALFRED CHAN, SAID PART VA OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE (EO) PROVIDED THAT SEVERANCE PAYMENT AND RETIREMENT SCHEME PAYMENT COULD BE SET OFF AGAINST EACH OTHER TO ENSURE THAT AN EMPLOYEE WOULD NOT GET DOUBLE BENEFITS.
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HOWEVER, THERE IS, AT PRESENT, NO PROVISION UNDER THE LAW ENABLE PWIF ΤΟ RECOVER FROM A RETIREMENT SCHEME THE EX-GRATIA SEVERANCE PAYMENT MADE TO AN EMPLOYEE COVERED BY THE SCHEME,
CONSEQUENTLY, AN EMPLOYEE MAY RECEIVE BENEFITS FROM BOTH THE PWIF AND THE RETIREMENT SCHEME OF WHICH HE IS A MEMBER, IF HIS EMPLOYER BECOMES INSOLVENT, HE ADDED.
BECAME
INSOLVENT,
MR CHAN NOTED THAT WHEN AN EMPLOYER EMPLOYEE WOULD NORMALLY APPLY TO THE PWIF FOR SEVERANCE PAYMENT IF HAD NOT YET RECEIVED HIS RETIREMENT SCHEME PAYMENT.
RIS HE
THE EMPLOYEE MIGHT BE GRANTED EX-GRATIA PAYMENT OF SEVERANCE PAYMENT AND THEN COULD OBTAIN HIS RETIREMENT SCHEME PAYMENT AFTERWARDS.
"THIS IS AT VARIANCE WITH THE INTENTION OF PART VA OF THE FO AND IS UNFAIR TO PWIF,' MR CHAN SAID.
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"THEREFORE, IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY ORDINANCE SHOULD BE AMENDED," HE ADDED.
MR CHAN ALSO SAID THE BILL WOULD BE SUBMITTED то THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION EARLY NEXT MONTH.
LOT SALE BY AUCTION
THE LANDS DEPARTMENT WILL AUCTION TWO LOTS OF GOVERNMENT LAND ON NOVEMBER 29 (MONDAY).
THE PUBLIC AUCTION WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM IN THE CONCERT HALL OF THE HONG KONG CULTURAL CENTRE, TSIM SHA TSUI.
THE FIRST LOT IS LOCATED AT MUI WO, LANTAU ISLAND.
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