WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1994
14
GOVERNMENT TAKES SERIOUS VIEW ON MATERNITY PROTECTION
* * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT TOOK MATERNITY PROTECTION.
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR LEUNG SAID THE
(NO.2) (AMENDMENT} UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT PAYMENT OF MATERNITY LEAVE PAY AN OFFENCE.
**
MR MICHAEL LEUNG,
A SERIOUS VIEW ON
IN
THE HON SIMON IP SIK-ON
GOVERNMENT HAD PROPOSED, BILL 1993,
TO
LATE
MAKE
THE 26 WEEKS ELIGIBILITY PERIOD FOR MATERNITY LEAVE AND THE 40 ALSO CLARIFIED WEEKS ELIGIBILITY PERIOD FOR MATERNITY LEAVE PAY ARE UNDER THE BILL,' HE SAID,
ORDINANCE, REVIEW, TO MATERNITY
AS TO THE LEVELS OF PENALTIES UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT MR LEUNG SAID THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAD RECENTLY COMPLETED A AND PROPOSED THAT THE MAXIMUM LEVELS OF FINES RELATING LEAVE PROVISIONS BE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED.
"THE PROPOSALS ARE BEING EXAMINED AND WILL BE INTRODUCED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE," HE SAID.
INTO
COMPLAINTS RELATED TO MR LEUNG SAID IN 1993, THERE WERE 41 DISMISSAL OF FEMALE EMPLOYEES ALLEGEDLY BECAUSE OF THEIR PREGNANCY.
то TERMINATION OF
THE OTHER 38 COMPLAINTS WERE NOT RELATED EMPLOYMENT. THEY CONCERNED PROVISION OF MATERNITY LEAVE PAY, SICKNESS CHECK-UPS AND OTHER RELATED IN RESPECT OF ALLOWANCE
OR ORDINANCE
THEIR EMPLOYMENT ENTITLEMENTS CONTRACTS.
UNDER
THE
MEDICAL EMPLOYMENT
THE
HE SAID ALL THESE COMPLAINT CASES HAD BEEN INVESTIGATED BY LABOUR DEPARTMENT. FOLLOWING ARE THE DETAILS OF THE 40 CASES THAT HAD NOT RESULTED IN CONVICTION:
—
* IN 18 CASES, THE FEMALE EMPLOYEES HAD FAILED TO SERVE NOTICE
OF PREGNANCY AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
*
IN SIX CASES,
THE CAUSE
DISMISSAL OF
WAS FOUND
ΤΟ
BE
UNCONNECTED WITH PREGNANCY.
IN EIGHT CASES, THE EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO BE VERY INADEQUATE OR WHERE THERE WAS NO PROSECUTION WITNESS.
IN THREE CASES, THE EMPLOYERS HAD BECOME INSOLVENT.
*
THE CASES,
EMPLOYERS TOOK PROMPT THREE ANOTHER AND IN REMEDIAL ACTIONS AND CAME TO AMICABLE SETTLEMENT WITH EMPLOYEES.
THEIR
IN ONE CASE, THE FEMALE EMPLOYEE WAS FOUND NOT ENTITLED MATERNITY PAY.
TO
*
IN ANOTHER CASE, THE EMPLOYEE'S ENTITLEMENT LEAVE PAY WAS UNCERTAIN AND IS NOW PENDING A RULING OF LABOUR TRIBUNAL.
TO MATERNITY
THE
0
—
/15
Page 30Page 31