XN000022-1977-06-15 — Page 2

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1977

MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR PROPOSED

SEVEN DAYS PAID ANNUAL LEAVE

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THERE WILL BE GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN THE PROPOSED NEW LAW ON THE SEVEN DAYS PAID ANNUAL LEAVE FOR WORKERS, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. PETER WILLIAMS TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE OF THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1977 THIS AFTERNOON.

HE DISCLOSED THIS FOLLOWING SPEECHES OF SUPPORT FOR THE BILL BY SEVEN UNOFFICIALS MOST OF WHOM ALSO URGED FOR THE NEED OF PROVIDING MORE FLEXIBILITY IN TAKING THE LEAVE BY WORKERS.

MR. WILLIAMS SAID THAT SINCE THERE HAD BEEN SIGNIFICANT OBJECTION TO THE ARRANGMENTS AT PRESENT PROPOSED IN THE BILL HE WOULD BE MOVING AN AMENDMENT IN COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE FOR GREATER FLEXIBILITY.

HE SAID: +WHERE AN EMPLOYEE WISHES TO HAVE SEVEN CONSECUTIVE DAYS HOLIDAY, LEGISLATION WILL CLEARLY PROVIDE FOR THIS RIGHT. BUT IF HE WISHES TO SPLIT THE SEVEN DAYS, THE AMENDMENT WILL ENABLE HIM TO TAKE A MINIMUM OF FOUR CONSECUTIVE DAYS OFF DURING THE YEAR.

+THESE FOUR DAYS, MR. WILLIAMS SAID, +MUST EXCLUDE STATUTORY HOLIDAYS AND REST DAYS.

+THE BALANCE OF THREE DAYS CAN BE TAKEN CONSECUTIVELY OR SEPARATELY AT ANOTHER TIME DURING THE YEAR, HE ADDED.

MR. WILLIAMS EXPLAINED THAT THIS ARRANGEMENT, WHILE RETAINING THE EMPLOYEE'S ENTITLEMENT TO SEVEN DAYS CONSECUTIVE LEAVE A YEAR, ALLOWS, BY THE ALTERNATIVE OPTION OF FOUR DAYS CONSECUTIVE LEAVE WITH THE BALANCE BEING TAKEN SEPARATELY, FOR THAT GREATER FLEXIBILITY WHICH HE SAID MANY EMPLOYEES APPEARED TO VALUE NOW.

HE SAID +ALL WILL OF COURSE BE ABLE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS, TO LINK THE VARIOUS PORTIONS OF THEIR ANNUAL LEAVE WITH STATUTORY HOLIDAYS OR REST DAYS SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A LONGER BREAK FROM WORK.

+ I MUST EMPHASIZE,+ MR. WILLIAMS CONTINUED, THAT IN ALLOWING FOR THIS OPTION OF FOUR CONSECUTIVE DAYS, IT REMAINS THE GOVERNMENT'S AIM TO LEGISLATE FOR SEVEN CONSECUTIVE DAYS PAID HOLIDAY FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR ANNUAL LEAVE.+

SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF HIS UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES, THE HON. PETER C. WONG, WHO IS CONVENER OF AN AD HOC GROUP STUDYING THE BILL, SAID THE AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL SUGGESTED WERE ADVOCATED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE UNOFFICIALS.

THEY FAVOURED,