XN000022-1981-05-15 — Page 5

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1981

THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD PREPARED A GUIDE TO PROVISIONS OF PAID MATERNITY LEAVE AND FREE COPIES WERE AVAILABLE IN ALL OFFICES OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE.

THE GUIDE OUTLINES ALL THE IMPORTANT PROVISIONS. SUCH AS THOSE CONCERNING QUALIFICATION OR ENTITLEMENT TO MATERNITY LEAVE AND MATERNITY LEAVE PAY. LENGTH OF MATERNITY LEAVE. RATE OF MATERNITY LEAVE PAY, PREGNANCY CHECK-UPS. POST CONFINEMENT MEDICAL TREATMENT AND MISCARRIAGES. VERIFICATION OF NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND FROHIBITION OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT IN CONNECTION WITH MATERNITY LEAVE.

ANYONE HAVING ENQUIRIES ABOUT MATERNITY PROTECTION SHOULD CONTACT THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE ON TELEPHONE 5-282523 EXT. 81.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR MARCH PUBLISHED

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THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY PUBLISHED THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR MARCH 1981.

THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) AND THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) FOR MARCH 1981 WERE BOTH 113, EACH BEING ONE POINT OR 0.9 PER CENT HIGHER THAN FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE NEW C.P.I.(A) AND NEW C.P.I.(B) ARE BASED ON EXPENDITURE PATTERNS RESPECTIVELY OF 50 PER CENT AND 30 PER CENT OF URBAN HOUSEHOLDS IN HONG KONG, WHICH WERE DERIVED FROM THE HOUSEHOLDS EXPENDITURE SURVEY OF 1979/80. AT THAT TIME, THE NEW C.P.I.(A) REFERS TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $1 000 AND $3 499 A MONTH AND THE NEW C.P.I.(B) TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $3 500 AND $6 499 A MONTH.

THE INDEXES FOR MARCH 1981 IN RESPECT OF THE NINE COMPONENTS OF HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE DISTINGUISHED IN THE TWO NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES ARE GIVEN BELOW, TOGETHER WITH THOSE FOR FEBRUARY 1981.

/NEW C.P.I. (A)

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