XN000022-1978-02-14 — Page 4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1978

TO ADMINISTER THE ORDINANCE, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SET UP AN APPRENTICESHIP DIVISION IN JULY 1976. ITS DUTIES INCLUDE ADVISING AND ASSISTING EMPLOYERS IN THE TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OF APPRENTICES, REGISTERING APPRENTICESHIP CONTRACTS, ENSURING THAT TRAINING FOR APPRENTICES IS PROPERLY CARRIED OUT AND HELPING TO RESOLVE DISPUTES BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND APPRENTICES.

IN 1976, SOME 1,500 APPRENTICESHIP CONTRACTS WERE REGISTERED BY THE DIVISION, MR. WILLIAMS SAID.

REFERRING TO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, MR. WILLIAMS SAID IT MADE PROVISIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, FOR THE MANNER OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS, PROBATION, SUSPENSION FROM EMPLOYMENT, TEMPORARY LAY-OFF, WAGE PERIODS AND THE TIME, MANNER AND PLACE OF PAYMENT OF WAGES, DEDUCTION FROM WAGES, MATERNITY PROTECTION FOR WOMEN, PROVISION OF REST DAYS, SICKNESS ALLOWANCE, HOLIDAYS WITH PAY AND SEVERANCE PAY, AND LICENSING OF EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES.

SUMMING UP THE BENEFITS PROVIDED BY VARIOUS AMENDMENTS TO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE SINCE 1975, MR. WILLIAMS SAID A WORKER NOW EARNS ONE PAID SICKNESS DAY FOR EACH MONTH OF SERVICE AND CAN ACCUMULATE UP TO 36 DAYS. HIS SICKNESS ALLOWANCE IS TWO-THIRDS HIS NORMAL WAGES.

IN THE CASE OF WRONGFUL DISMISSAL, HIS WAGES AND WAGES-IN-LIEU OF NOTICE ARE PROTECTED BY LAW IN CASE OF BANKRUPTCY OF THE EMPLOYER, HE HAS PRIORITY OF CLAIM OVER ALMOST ALL OTHER CREDITORS. AND IF HIS EMPLOYER IS A SUB-CONTRACTOR, THE ARREARS OF WAGES WILL BE DEFRAYED EVENTUALLY BY THE PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR.

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IN TERMS OF REST AND HOLIDAYS, A WORKER IS NOW ENTITLED TO ONE REST DAY IN SEVEN DAYS, 10 PAID HOLIDAYS AND SEVEN DAYS PAID ANNUAL LEAVE PER YEAR, MR. WILLIAMS SAID.

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