XN000022-1978-08-10 — Page 5

THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1978

EMPLOYERS URGED TO CONSIDER SAFETY OF WORKERS DURING TYPHOON

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NOW THAT THE TYPHOON SEASON IS WITH US AGAIN EMPLOYERS ARE URGED TO GIVE CONSIDERATION TO THE SAFETY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES BOTH AT THEIR PLACE OF WORK AND DURING THEIR JOURNEY TO AND FROM HOME ON THE APPROACH OF A STORM, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.

HE SAID ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO LAW LAYING DOWN THE PARTICULAR PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW ON EACH OCCASION, IT WOULD BE WISE FOR EMPLOYERS TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES IN ADVANCE ON THEIR TYPHOON ARRANGEMENTS SO AS TO AVOID CONFUSION DURING OR ON THE APPROACH OF A STORM.

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+SUCH AN AGREEMENT SHOULD INCLUDE THE METHOD OF CALCULATING WAGES TO BE PAID UNDER VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES,+ HE SAID.

SPEAKING OF PAST EXPERIENCES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT RECEIVED MANY ENQUIRIES DURING THE TYPHOON SEASON FROM EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES SEEKING ADVICE ON THE SUBJECT.

+BASICALLY, HE SAID, IT IS A MATTER OF DECISION BETWEEN EACH EMPLOYER AND HIS EMPLOYEES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT AND THE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE'S PLACE OF RESIDENCE, AVAILABILITY OF TRANSPORT AND OTHER FACTORS.

+CONFUSION OR EVEN DISPUTES CAN ARISE IF THERE IS A LACK OF PRIOR UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES AS TO WHAT TO DO WHEN A TYPHOON IS COMING.+

HE SUGGESTED THAT FIRMS SHOULD SEND THE IR EMPLOYEES HOME WHEN TYPHOON SIGNAL NUMBER EIGHT OR HIGHER IS HOISTED, OR WHEN CESSATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES IS IMMINENT.

OF COURSE, EMPLOYEES WHO ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL AND EMERGENCY DUTIES DURING A TYPHOON WOULD BE EXCEPTIONS, HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN OFFERED THE SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE TO EMPLOYERS IN COUNSELLING ADVICE FOR DRAFTING OR PREPARING AGREEMENTS CONCERNING TYPHOON ARRANGEMENTS.

HE SAID THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE OPERATES IN THE FOLLOWING BRANCH OFFICES HONG KONG REGIONAL OFFICE, NEW RODNEY BLOCK, QUEENSWAY, TELEPHONE 5-282523 EXT. 60- SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, PRINCE EDWARD ROAD, SAN PO KONG, TELEPHONE 3-205638 (FOR KOWLOON EAST) AND 3-201652 (FOR KOWLOON WEST)- KWUN TONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICE BUILDING, TUNG YAN STREET, 2ND FLOOR, TELEPHONE 3-898520- CHARTERED BANK BUILDING, 3RD FLOOR, TSUEN WAN, TELEPHONE 12-422096 AND 39 TAK CHING COURT, TUEN MUN NEW TOWN, TELEPHONE 12-818443.