XN000022-1977-06-29 — Page 6

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1977

ANNUAL LEAVE BILL PASSED WITH AMENDMENTS

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THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO.3) BILL 1977 WHICH AIMS TO GIVE WORKERS SEVEN DAYS PAID ANNUAL LEAVE PASSED ITS COMMITTEE STAGE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WITH TWO AMENDMENTS.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROVIDED FOR THE REDUCTION FROM ONE MONTH TO 14 DAYS THE PERIOD OF NOTICE REQUIRED TO BE GIVEN TO EMPLOYEES OF THE TIME APPOINTED FOR THE IR LEAVE.

THE SECOND AMENDMENT PROVIDED EMPLOYEES WITH THE OPTION TO TAKE EITHER ALL SEVEN DAYS LEAVE CONSECUTIVELY OR SEPARATELY. IN THE LATTER. CASE AT LEAST FOUR OF THE HOLIDAYS, EXCLUDING STATUTORY HOLIDAYS, MUST BE TAKEN CONSECUTIVELY.

THESE AMENDMENTS WERE DESIGNED TO GIVE GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO FACTORY OWNERS WHO MAY RECEIVE OVERSEAS ORDERS AT SHORT NOTICE AND ALSO TO WORKERS.

UNDER THE NEW LAW, WHICH WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR, ALL MANUAL WORKERS, AND NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES EARNING NOT MORE THAN $2,000 A MONTH WILL BE ENTITLED TO SEVEN DAYS PAID ANNUAL LEAVE AFTER SERVING 12 MONTHS WITH THE SAME EMPLOYER.

THE SEVEN DAYS ANNUAL LEAVE WILL BE IN ADDITION TO THE 10 STATUTORY HOLIDAYS TO WHICH WORKERS ARE ALREADY ENTITLED TO BY LAW.

ON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, AN EMPLOYEE MUST BE GIVEN PRO- RATA ANNUAL LEAVE PAY EXCEPT WHERE HIS RELEVANT PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT IS LESS THAN THREE MONTHS, OR HE IS DISMISSED FOR MISCONDUCT AND HIS RELEVANT PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT IS LESS THAN 12 MONTHS.

APART FROM THESE CIRCUMSTANCES PAYMENT IN LIEU OF LEAVE IS PROHIBITED.

THE NEW LAW ALSO REQUIRES AN EMPLOYER TO KEEP RECORDS OF ANNUAL LEAVE TAKEN BY HIS STAFF AND TO POST NOTICE OF ANY INTENTION TO CLOSE DOWN HIS BUSINESS TEMPORARILY FOR THE PURPOSE OF GRANTING ANNUAL LEAVE TO HIS EMPLOYEES.

IN SUCH AN EVENT, ANY EMPLOYEE WHO HAS NOT COMPLETED ONE YEAR'S SERVICE WOULD BE ENTITLED TO ANNUAL LEAVE WITH PAY FOR THE PERIOD OF THE SHUT DOWN.

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