XN000022-1982-03-25 — Page 12

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1982

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BENEFIT SCHEME FOR WORKERS PROPOSED

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THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SET UP A CENTRALLY-ADMINISTERED SEMI- VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTORY BENEFIT SCHEME TO PROTECT WORKERS NOT EMPLOYED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR WELL-ESTABLISHED INSTITUTIONS AGAINST PROLONGED SICKNESS, INJURY AT WORK AND RETIREMENT.

A NEW BOARD ON SOCIAL SECURITY SHOULD ALSO BE ESTABLISHED TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY.

THESE SUGGESTIONS WERE MADE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE HON ANDREW SO, IN A STRONG PLEA FOR A BETTER DEAL FOR HONG KONG'S 2.4 MILLION WORKERS.

CITING STATISTICS TO SHOW THAT HONG KONG IS A WORKERS SOCIETY', MR SO SAID THE WIDENING GAP BETWEEN THE RICH AND THE POOR SHOWED THAT THE WORKERS, ON WHOM HONG KONG DEPENDED, WERE NOT GETTING A FAIR SHARE OF THE ECONOMIC CAKE.

WHILE AGREEING THAT STEADY IMPROVEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE TO SOCIAL SECURITY PROVISIONS IN HONG KONG IN RECENT YEARS, HE NEVERTHELESS FELT THEY WERE STILL FAR FROM ADEQUATE.

+BY 'ADEQUATE', I MEAN SUFFICIENT TO GUARANTEE A LIFE COMPATIBLE WITH HUMAN DIGNITY AND TO REDISTRIBUTE INCOME FROM THE HEALTHY TO THE SICK, FROM THE YOUNG TO THE OLD, FROM HIGH INCOME TO LOW INCOME EARNERS, FROM FAMILIES WITH FEW CHILDREN TO FAMILIES WITH MANY, AND FROM THE EMPLOYED TO THE UNEMPLOYED.

+ IN OTHER WORDS, WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN OUR QUEST FOR PROTECTING OUR WORKERS, INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY REDISTRIBUTING INCOME, PROMOTING SECURITY AND HUMAN DIGNITY,+ HE SAID.

MR SO POINTED OUT THAT A CONTRIBUTORY SCHEME WOULD ENABLE THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM IN HONG KONG TO MOVE TOWARDS ITS TARGET OF HELPING PEOPLE TO HELP THEMSELVES INSTEAD OF PLAYING JUST A RELIEF ROLE.

AND WITH THE HELP OF PROPER PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION AND GIVEN THE INCENTIVES SUCH AS TAX RELIEF, SUCH A SCHEME SHOULD PROVE ATTRACTIVE TO BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, HE ADDED.

+OUR GOVERNMENT IS ANXIOUS TO PROMOTE LONG-TERM PLANNING, LONG- TERM COMMITMENTS, THE STABILITY OF HONG KONG, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENTS AND A SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG THE PEOPLE.

+A CONTRIBUTORY SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME WOULD, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ENHANCE SUCH ISSUES.

+SO WHY SHOULDN'T WE GO AHEAD WITH THE SCHEME?+ MR SO ASKED.

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