XN000022-1976-11-26 — Page 11

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1976

WORKERS TO GET FOUR MORE REST DAYS NEXT YEAR

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THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1976 WHICH PROVIDES FOR ONE REST DAY IN EVERY SEVEN DAY PERIOD FOR HONG KONG WORKERS COMPLETED ITS THIRD READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.

THE NEW BILL WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON JANUARY 2 NEXT YEAR WHEN IT WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF REST DAYS IN A YEAR FOR HONG KONG WORKERS FROM 48 TO 52. IT WILL AFFECT ALL NON-MANUAL WORKERS EARNING NOT MORE THAN $2,000 A MONTH AND ALL MANUAL WORKERS UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE.

A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS REGULATIONS, WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS COULD NOT WORK FOR MORE THAN SIX DAYS IN ANY WEEK WHILE ALL EMPLOYEES TO WHOM PART IV OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE APPLIED ARE AT PRESENT ENTITLED TO NOT LESS THAN FOUR REST DAYS IN A MONTH.

HE SAID: +SINCE 1970 WHEN THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WAS AMENDED TO PROVIDE FOR FOUR REST DAYS A MONTH, THE TAKING OF REGULAR REST DAYS BY HONG KONG'S HARDWORKING POPULATION HAS BECOME A REGULAR FEATURE.✦

HE ADDED THAT EXISTING PROVISIONS WERE RETAINED IN THE ORDINANCE TO GIVE FLEXIBILITY TO EMPLOYERS IN SUBSTITUTING ALTERNATIVE REST DAYS.