XN000022-1976-05-27 — Page 9

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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1976

DE BOAT FESTIVAL

A STATUTORY HOLIDAY

******

THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. NEIL HENDERSON, TODAY REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT THE TUEN NG (DRAGON BOAT)

IS FESTIVAL, WHICH THIS YEAR FALLS ON JUNE 2 (WEDNESDAY) ONE OF THE SIX STATUTORY HOLIDAYS UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.

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

UNDER THE ORDINANCE, ALL MANUAL EMPLOYEES WITHOUT DISTINCTION AND INCLUDING DOMESTIC SERVANTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR EARNINGS AND ALL NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES EARNING NOT MORE THAN $2,000 A MONTH, ARE ENTITLED TO THE HOLIDAY. 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,+ SAID MR. HENDERSON.

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IF THE EMPLOYER REQUIRES AN EMPLOYEE TO WORK ON A 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 EMPLOYEES 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THAT 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 SERVICES. THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE FOR KOWLOON EAST 3-205638- KOWLOON WEST 3-201652- KWUN TONG 3-898520- TSUEN WAN 12-422096- YUEN LONG 12-760261 EXT. 82- AND HONG KONG ISLAND 5-282523 EXT. 60.

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