XN000022-1981-04-08 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1981

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BETTER MATERNITY BENEFITS

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PAID MATERNITY LEAVE WILL APPLY TO THREE SURVIVING CHILDREN AND NOT TWO AS RECOMMENDED BY THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP SET UP TO EXAMINE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING MATERNITY BENEFITS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON J.N. HENDERSON, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE ADDED THAT THE INCLUSION OF A LIMIT IN THE LEGISLATION AROSE FROM THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE WORKING GROUP THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE AN OPEN-ENDED COMMITMENT+ FOR THE PAID LEAVE AND THE NEED TO LIMIT EMPLOYER'S LIABILITY NOT FROM CONSIDERATIONS OF POPULATION.

HE STRESSED THAT THE EXISTING MATERNITY PROTECTION PROVISIONS TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF MOTHERS-TO-BE WHO ARE WORK ING APPLIED WITHOUT ANY LIMITATION AS TO NUMBERS OF CONFINEMENTS OR SURVIVING CHILDREN,

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1981 WHICH PROVIDES FOR PAID MATERNITY LEAVE, MR HENDERSON SAID THAT THE PRINCIPLE OF ADOPTING A SYSTEM OF PAID MATERNITY LEAVE WAS UNIVERSALLY SUPPORTED NOTWITHSTANDING DIFFERENCES ON THE EXTENT, AMOUNT, CONDITIONS, AND LIMITATION ON MATERNITY PAY ITSELF.

ON THE WHOLE, THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE WELL RECEIVED BY ALL THESE UNIONS AND ORGANISATIONS WHO WERE CONSULTED AS WELL AS BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, HE ADDED.

AFTER CONSULTING THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VARIETY OF VIEWS EXPRESSED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, EMPLOYEES' TRADE UNIONS, MAJOR EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES, HE PROPOSED TO AMEND THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR PAID MATERNITY LEAVE.

MR HENDERSON WENT ON TO SAY THAT IT WAS PROPOSED THAT ANY WOMAN EMPLOYEE COVERED BY THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE THAT IS ALL WOMEN MANUAL EMPLOYEES AND ALL THOSE WOMEN NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES EARNING UP TO $6 000 A MONTH SHOULD BE PAID WHILE ON MATERNITY LEAVE AT THE RATE OF NOT LESS THAN TWO-THIRDS OF HER PREVIOUS WAGES.

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PAID MATERNITY LEAVE SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THREE +SURVIVING CHILDREN+- AND TO VERIFY THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SHE HAS AT THE TIME SHE APPLIES FOR PAID MATERNITY LEAVE, A WOMAN EMPLOYEE SHOULD PRODUCE A STATUTORY DECLARATION TO HER EMPLOYER.

THE QUALIFYING SERVICE FOR PAID MATERNITY LEAVE SHOULD BE 40 WEEKS OF CONTINUOUS EMPLOYMENT BEFORE COMMENCEMENT OF MATERNITY LEAVE.

A WOMAN EMPLOYEE WHO, WITHOUT THE PRIOR PERMISSION OF HER EMPLOYER, WORKS FOR ANOTHER EMPLOYER WHILE SHE IS ON PAID MATERNITY LEAVE SHOULD NOT BE ENTITLED TO MATERNITY ALLOWANCE.

/LEAVE TAKEN