XN000022-1975-09-16 — Page 3

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1975

STATUTORY HOLIDAY FOR WORKERS

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. IAN PRICE, TODAY REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT SEPTEMBER 21, THE DAY FOLLOWING THE MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL, IS ONE OF THE SIX STATUTORY HOLIDAYS APPOINTED UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.

THIS YEAR THE HOLIDAY FALLS ON A SUNDAY WHICH IS LIKELY ALSO TO BE A REST DAY FOR MANY EMPLOYEES COVERED BY THE ORDINANCE.

+IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES,+ SAID MR. PRICE, +AN EMPLOYER MUST GRANT HIS EMPLOYEES ANOTHER REST DAY BECAUSE THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE STIPULATES THAT A REST DAY SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ANY STATUTORY HOLIDAY.+

MR. PRICE EMPHASISED THAT THE PROVISIONS OF. THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE APPLIED NOT ONLY TO INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYEES BUT ALSO TO EMPLOYEES IN THE ENTIRE COMMERCIAL SECTOR, INCLUDING THE SERVICES AND CATERING TRADES.

UNDER THE ORDINANCE, ALL NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES EARNING NOT MORE THAN $2,000 A MONTH AND ALL MANUAL EMPLOYEES IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR EARNINGS ARE ENTITLED TO THE HOLIDAY. AND THEY MUST ALSO BE PAID FOR THE DAY OFF IF THEY HAVE WORKED CONTINUOUSLY FOR THEIR EMPLOYERS FOR THREE MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY.

+AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS NOT EMPLOYED ON A CONTINUOUS CONTRACT FOR EXAMPLE, ONE WHO WORKS FOR LESS THAN SIX HOURS A DAY OR HAS BEEN EMPLOYED BY THE SAME EMPLOYER FOR LESS THAN THREE MONTHS IS STILL ENTITLED TO THE HOLIDAY, BUT HAS NO LEGAL ENTITLEMENT TO BE PAID,+ MR. PRICE SAID.

IF THE EMPLOYER REQUIRES AN EMPLOYEE TO WORK ON THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY, HE MUST GIVE HIM AT LEAST 48 HOURS' NOTICE, AND HE MUST GIVE HIS EMPLOYEE AN ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY.

IF THE EMPLOYER INTENDS TO GIVE HIS EMPLOYEE AN ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY BEFORE THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY, HE MUST NOTIFY HIS EMPLOYEE 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE BEFORE GIVING HIM AN ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY. AND IF AN ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY IS TO BE GIVEN AFTER THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY. THE EMPLOYER MUST INFORM HIS EMPLOYEE OF THE ARRANGEMENT AT LEAST 48 HOURS BEFORE THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY.

IF THE EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE AGREE, ANY DAY WITHIN 30 DAYS OF A STATUTORY HOLIDAY OR ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY MAY BE TAKEN BY THE EMPLOYEE AS A SUBSTITUTED HOLIDAY.

COMPLAINTS OR ENQUIRIES ABOUT STATUTORY HOLIDAYS MAY BE MADE TO THE NEAREST BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE. THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE : FOR KOWLOON EAST 3-205638- KOWLOON WEST 3-201652- KWUN TONG 3-898520- TSUEN WAN 12-422096- AND HONG KONG ISLAND 5-202523 EXT. 60.

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