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Continued decrease in occupational injuries
The year 1995 saw a continued decrease in the number of occupational injuries reported to the Labour Department under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance (ECO).
Of a total of 59,375 occupational injuries reported in the year, 59,128 were non- fatal cases while 247 involved fatalities. Compared with 1994, the total figure represents a drop of 7.8 per cent. The number of fatal cases was six per cent and 13 per cent fewer than in 1994 and 1993 respectively.
The wholesale/retail and restaurants/hotel trade, with 15,592 reported cases, accounted for the largest share or 26.3 per cent of the cases reported in 1995.
Another 26 per cent of injuries were reported in the construction industry and 17 per cent in the manufacturing sector.
Senior Labour Officer (Compensation) (Administration & Assessment), Mrs Jenny Chan, said today (Sunday) that the distribution of injuries by economic sector was similar to that of 1994. In absolute numbers, there was a decrease in injuries in the manufacturing, construction, transport/storage and communication sectors.
The Employees' Compensation Division of the Labour Department assists injured employees and dependants of deceased employees in claiming compensation under the ECO.
A total of 42,239 or 71 per cent of the cases reported in 1995 were settled by the end of the year. The amount of compensation involved was $265.5 million.
Irrespective of the year of reporting, the total number of cases settled in 1995 was 61,887 with compensation payable amounting to $917.3 million.
"Under the ECO, the employer is required to take out insurance cover for all employees so that he can fulfil his legal obligations to pay compensation. The Labour Department takes a serious view on compliance with this provision and our Labour Inspectors conduct frequent visits to establishments to detect offences," Mrs Chan said.
In 1995, 529 summonses were heard and 513 were convicted for failure to take out insurance cover. The highest fine imposed for one summons was $20,000. Under the law, the maximum fine on summary conviction was $25,000 and one-year imprisonment. Compared to 1994, the number of convictions increased by 55 per cent.