XN000022-1982-07-25 — Page 4

SUNDAY, JULY 25, 1982

'FLOATING HOLIDAY REMINDER TO EMPLOYERS

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EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE NOT ALREADY DESIGNATED A DATE FOR THE +FLOATING HOLIDAY+ AND GIVEN THEIR EMPLOYEES A DAY OFF ON JULY 1 (THE FIRST WEEK-DAY IN JULY), SHOULD GIVE THE STAFF THE DAY-OFF ON AUGUST 2 (THE FIRST MONDAY IN AUGUST), THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT STATED TODAY (SUNDAY).

UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, THE FLOATING HOLIDAY - ONE OF THE 10 STATUTORY HOLIDAYS IN A YEAR - MUST BE DESIGNATED BY EMPLOYERS AND NOTIFIED TO EMPLOYEES BY A NOTICE PLACED IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE BY THE END OF THE PRECEDING YEAR.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT 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 $7 500 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.

THE PAY SHOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO THE EMPLOYEE'S 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 IS REQUIRED TO WORK ON A STATUTORY HOLIDAY, HE MUST BE GIVEN AN ALTERNATIVE DAY OFF WITHIN 60 DAYS BEFORE OR AFTER THAT DAY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

IF THE ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY IS TO BE GRANTED BEFORE THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY, THE EMPLOYER MUST NOTIFY THE EMPLOYEE 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY.

WHERE THE ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY IS TO BE GIVEN AFTER A STATUTORY HOLIDAY, THE EMPLOYEE MUST BE NOTIFIED OF THE ARRANGEMENT AT LEAST 48 HOURS BEFORE THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY.

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

FURTHER ENQUIRIES MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE LABOUR RELATIONS

SERVICE.

ITS TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE 3-205638 FOR KOWLOON EAST; 3-201652 FOR KOWLOON WEST; 3-319454 FOR KOWLOON SOUTH: 3-398520 FOR KWUN TONG; O-422096 FOR TSUEN WAN 0-818443 FOR TUEN MUN 5-268671 FOR HONG KONG ISLAND (WEST) AND 5-282523, EXT. 63, FOR HONG KONG ISLAND (EAST).