XN000022-1981-09-02 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1981

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HOL I ́ ́Y REMINDER TO EMPLOYERS

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A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT SUNDAY, SEPTEMPER 13, 1981- THE DAY FOLLOWING THE CHINESE MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL - IS A STATUTORY HOLIDAY UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.

THAT SUNDAY, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT, IS PROBABLY ALSO A REST DAY FOR MANY EMPLOYEES COVERED BY THE ORDINANCE, AND IF THIS IS THE CASE AN EMPLOYER MUST APPOINT AN ALTERNATIVE REST DAY BECAUSE A REST DAY CANNOT BE COUNTED AS A STATUTORY HOLIDAY.

IN THE CASE OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS EMPLOYED IN INDUSTRY, IF THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY FALLS ON THEIR REST DAY, THE HOLIDAY SHOULD BE TAKEN ON THE DAY FOLLOWING THE REST DAY.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE ORDINANCE ALL MANUAL EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING DOMESTIC SERVANTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR EARNINGS, AND ALL NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES EARNING NOT MORE THAN $6 000 A MONTH, ARE ENTITLED TO THE HOLIDAY.

THEY MUST ALSO BE PAID FOR THE DAY OFF IF THEY HAVE WORKED CONTINUOUSLY FOR THREE MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY.

HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO THE EMPLOYEES' EARNINGS, OTHER THAN OVERTIME PAY, ON A NORMAL WORKING DAY. WHERE THE EARNINGS VARY FROM DAY TO DAY, HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD BE THE AVERAGE OF THE DAILY EARNINGS DURING A PERIOD OF 28 DAYS PRECEDING THE HOLIDAY. PAYMENT SHOULD BE MADE ON THE NORMAL PAY DAY.

IF AN EMPLOYEE WAS REQUIRED TO WORK ON THE HOLIDAY, THE SPOKESMAN CONTINUED, HE MUST BE GIVEN AN ALTERNATIVE DAY OFF WITHIN 60 DAYS BEFORE OR AFTER THAT DAY.

IF THE ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY WAS TO BE GRANTED BEFORE THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY, THE EMPLOYER MUST NOTIFY THE EMPLOYEE 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY. IN THE CASE WHERE AN ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY WAS TO BE GIVEN AFTER STATUTORY HOLIDAY, THE EMPLOYEE MUST BE NOTIFIED OF THE ARRANGEMENT AT LEAST 48 HOURS BEFORE THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY.

IF BOTH EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE AGREE, ANY DAY WITHIN 30 DAYS OF A STATUTORY HOLIDAY OR ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY COULD BE TAKEN BY THE EMPLOYEE AS A SUBSTITUTED HOLIDAY, HE SAID.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT STATUTORY HOLIDAYS COULD BE MADE TO THE NEAREST BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE. THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE: FOR KOWLOON EAST 3-205638- KOWLOON WEST 3-201652- KWUN TONG 3-898520- TSUEN WAN 0-422096- TUỆN MUN 0-818443 AND HONG KONG ISLAND 5-282523 EXT. 60.