XN000022-1981-11-13 — Page 4

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1981

EQUALITY FOR MARRIED WOMEN CIVIL SERVANTS

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THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW POLICY OF EQUAL ELIGIBILITY TO FRINGE BENEFITS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS, REGARDLESS OF SEX AND MARITAL STATUS.

THIS POLICY FOLLOWS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE IN ITS SECOND REPORT ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY.

UNDER THIS POLICY MARRIED WOMEN CIVIL SERVANTS WILL NOW BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FULL RANGE OF FRINGE BENEFITS, ON THE SAME BASIS AS THE IR MALE COUNTERPARTS, FOR THEMSELVES, THE IR HUSBANDS AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN. THESE INCLUDE HOUSING BENEFITS, MEDICAL AND DENTAL BENEFITS, EDUCATION ALLOWANCES AND SCHOOL PASSAGES AND OTHER PASSAGES.

IN THE CASE OF HOUSING BENEFITS, DUE TO AN EXISTING SHORTFALL OF NON-DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS, MARRIED WOMEN OFFICERS WILL NOT BE ALLOCATED SUCH QUARTERS AT THE OUTSET, BUT THE SITUATION WILL BE REVIEWED PERIODICALLY WITH A VIEW TO THE IR INCLUSION AS SOON AS SUFFICIENT QUARTERS ARE AVAILABLE.

MARRIED WOMEN WILL HOWEVER BE ABLE TO RECEIVE ALL OTHER HOUSING BENEFITS INCLUDING PRIVATE TENANCY ALLOWANCES.

IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE GRANTING OF DOUBLE BENEFITS TO MARRIED OFFICERS, THOSE WHOSE SPOUSES ARE ALSO EMPLOYED IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WILL BE ALLOWED TO RECEIVE A FRINGE BENEFIT UNDER THE TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT OF EITHER SPOUSE.

OFF ICERS WHOSE SPOUSES ARE EMPLOYED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT TO THE EFFECT THAT HIS OR HER SPOUSE IS NOT IN RECEIPT OF A SIMILAR BENEFIT FROM HIS OR HER EMPLOYER.

MARRIED WOMEN CIVIL SERVANTS WILL ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THE HOME PURCHASE AND HOUSING LOAN SCHEMES.

CIRCULARS WILL BE ISSUED SHORTLY INFORMING ALL CIVIL SERVANTS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE HOUSING ASSISTANCE SCHEMES ORIGINALLY ANNOUNCED IN JULY, AND INVITING INITIAL APPLICATIONS. FURTHER CIRCULARS WILL BE ISSUED PERIODICALLY.

THE RATE OF INTEREST ON LOANS PROVIDED UNDER BOTH SCHEMES WILL BE SLIGHTLY BELOW THE MARKET RATE AND WILL VARY PERIODICALLY IN THE LIGHT OF PREVAILING INTEREST RATES. IT IS SET INITIALLY AT 17 PER CENT.