XN000022-1979-08-06 — Page 3

MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 1979

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WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION UNIT HANDLED 53,652

CASES IN 1978 ******

THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION UNIT (WCU) OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IN 1978 DEALT WITH 53,652 COMPENSATION CASES 278 FATAL AND 53,374 NON-FATAL CASES, COMPARED WITH 49,854 (265 FATAL) IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

COMPENSATION FOR WORK INJURY OR DEATH OR OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE PAYABLE BY EMPLOYERS IS PROVIDED UNDER THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.

ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCE, AN EMPLOYER SHOULD NOTIFY THE UNIT OF ANY ACCIDENT WITHIN SEVEN DAYS AFTER ITS OCCURRENCE.

+THE WOU HELPS INJURED WORKERS OR DEPENDANTS TO OBTAIN COMPENSATION FROM EMPLOYERS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, MR. YIU YAN-NANG, SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER OF THE WCU SAID.

+WHEN NOTIFIED OF OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS, THE UNIT HELPS WORKERS FILE CLAIMS AND TAKE FOLLOW UP ACTION TO ENABLE THEM TO OBTAIN COMPENSATION FROM THE EMPLOYERS PROMPTLY.

+IN A FATAL CASE, THE WCU ADVISES THE DECEASED WORKER'S DEPENDANTS OF THEIR RIGHTS TO COMPENSATION, HELPS THEM TO PRESENT THEIR CASE TO COURT WITH SUFFICIENT DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE AND, IF NECESSARY, REFER THEM TO THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT FÖR LEGAL ASSISTANCE OR TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.+

TO SETTLE A COMPENSATION CLAIM, THE EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE ON AGREEING TO THE AMOUNT PAYABLE, WHICH SHOULD NOT BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT LAID DOWN BY THE ORDINANCE, SHOULD SUBMIT THE AGREEMENT TO THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL.

MR. YIU POINTED OUT THAT SOME EMPLOYERS HAVE NOT BEEN PROMPT IN DRAWING UP AGREEMENTS, RESULTING IN LATE PAYMENT AND SOMETIMES HARDSHIP TO THE WORKERS CONCERNED.

DELAYS HAVE ALSO OCCURRED IN CASES WHERE EMPLOYERS AWAIT REIMBURSEMENT FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES BEFORE MAKING PAYMENTS TO THE INJURED WORKERS, HE ADDED.

TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS, TWO BRANCH OFFICES - THE KWUN TONG AND TSUEN WAN OFFICES WERE OPENED THIS YEAR.

MEANWHILE, A WORKING PARTY, AIMED AT IMPROVING THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION SERVICES, HAS MADE VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS IN A REPORT WHICH IS BEING STUDIED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR IMPLEMENTATION.

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