XN000022-1982-08-27 — Page 7

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1982

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COMPENSATION BILL WELL RECEIVED

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THE BILL WHICH INTRODUCES COMPULSORY INSURANCE AND OTHER COMPENSATION MEASURES FOR EMPLOYEES HAS RECEIVED GOOD GENERAL SUPPORT FROM VARIOUS QUARTERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND IS SEEN AS SIGNIFICANT STEP TO FURTHER PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF EMPLOYEES

INJURED AT WORK AND THEIR DEPENDANTS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR YIU YAN-NANG, IN A TALK ON THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG SOUTH TODAY (FRIDAY).

MR YIU POINTED OUT THAT SINCE THE BILL WAS PUBLISHED, IT HAD ATTRACTED COMMENTS FROM A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING EMPLOYERS' ORGANISATIONS, TRADE UNIONS, INSURERS, BANKERS AND SOCIAL GROUPS.

HE ALSO REFERRED TO CRITICAL REMARKS ABOUT LACK OF CONSULTATIONS, DELAY IN INTRODUCING THE BILL, LACK OF A CENTRAL FUND TO COVER DEFAULT CASES, AND THE NEED TO RAISE THE LEVELS OF COMPENSATION.

ON THE ISSUE OF CONSULTATIONS, HE EXPLAINED THAT THE BILL, REPRESENTED THE SECOND STAGE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING PARTY.

THE PARTY IN THE COURSE OF ITS DELIBERATIONS HAD CONSULTED A NUMBER OF INTERESTED BODIES, INCLUDING THE MAJOR EMPLOYERS' ORGANISATIONS AND THE ACCIDENT INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

THE REPORT OF THE PARTY HAD BEEN PRESENTED TO THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD WHICH ENDORSED ALL ITS RECOMMENDATIONS AND HAD BEEN DISTRIBUTED FOR COMMENTS TO ALL REGISTERED TRADE UNIONS, MAJOR EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER INTERESTED BODIES.

ON CRITICISMS OF DELAY, MR YIU NOTED THAT THE BILL COVERED SUBJECTS SOME OF WHICH WERE DIFFICULT TO DRAFT WHILE OTHERS WERE CONTROVERSIAL AND TOOK MORE TIME TO RESOLVE.

MR YIU POINTED OUT THAT COMPULSORY INSURANCE SHOULD NOT IMPOSE ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS ON EMPLOYERS WHO HAD ALREADY TAKEN OUT INSURANCE.

FOR THOSE WHO HAD NOT YET BEEN INSURED, THE INSURANCE PREMIUMS REQUIRED WHEN COMPULSORY INSURANCE COMES INTO FORCE WOULD BE THE PRICE TO COVER THEIR LIABILITY, WHICH SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS AN ADDITIONAL COST, HE SAID,

THE REAL ADDITIONAL COST THAT MIGHT FALL ON EMPLOYERS WOULD BE THE RESULT OF THE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS INTRODUCED BY THE BILL, SUCH AS LEAVE WITH PAY FOR ATTENDING MEDICAL EXAMINATION OR ASSESSMENT BOARD.

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