WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
ACCORDING TO STATISTICS FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, BETWEEN THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 1980 TO SEPTEMBER 1982, THERE HAD BEEN AN INCREASE OF 39.8 PER CENT IN THE OVERALL NOMINAL WAGE LEVEL. IT WAS ALSO PROJECTED THAT FROM SEPTEMBER 1982 TO MARCH 1983. THERE WOULD BE A FURTHER INCREASE OF THREE PER CENT IN THE WAGE LEVELS.
+WHEN THIS INCREASE IS RELATED BACK TO THE ORIGINAL LEVEL IN MARCH 1980, THE OVERALL INCREASE BECOMES 44 PER CENT,+ HE ADDED.
AFTER THE REVISION, MR HENDERSON CONTINUED, THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION FOR DEATH WILL BE INCREASED FROM $168 000 TO $242 000, AND THAT FOR PERMANENT TOTAL INCAPACITY FROM $192 000 TO $276 000.
THE MINIMUM LEVELS FOR DEATH AND PERMANENT TOTAL INCAPACITY WILL BE INCREASED FROM $56 000 AND $64 000 TO $81 000 AND $92 000 RESPECTIVELY.
THE ALLOWANCE FOR CONSTANT ATTENTION PAYABLE UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE WILL ALSO BE ADJUSTED FROM $77 000 TO $111 000.
THE LEVELS OF COMPENSATION PROVIDED UNDER THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE, WHICH HAVE BEEN SET AT EXACTLY THE SAME LEVELS AS THOSE UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, WOULD BE ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY, MR HENDERSON ADDED.
THE GOVERNMENT'S MOVE TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM COMPENSATION TO REFLECT CHANGES IN WAGE LEVELS OF WORKERS WAS WELCOMED BY DR THE HON HARRY FANG.
HOWEVER, HE SUGGESTED SUCH REVISIONS ALSO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CHANGES IN THE COST OF LIVING, HE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
DR FANG NOTED THAT THE $3 000 ALLOWED FOR BURIAL AND MEDICAL ATTENDANCE EXPENSES IN RESPECT OF A DECEASED EMPLOYEE LEAVING NO DEPENDANT HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED SINCE 1980.
+JUDGING FROM THE INCREASE IN THE COST OF LIVING IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, A REVISION OF THIS COMPENSATION RATE IS DUE,+ DR FANG SAID.
DR FANG FELT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO LOOK INTO THE COMPENSATION PAYABLE TO WORKERS INJURED ON DUTY.
ON THE DATE OF INJURY.
THESE COMPENSATION WERE SUBJECT TO MAXIMUM LEVELS IN FORCE
BUT THEY HAD GIVEN RISE TO COMPLAINTS FROM SOME WORKERS, BECAUSE DURING THE TIME WHEN THEIR EXTENT OF INCAPACITY WERE BEING ASSESSED, INCREASES ON THE MAXIMUM PAYMENTS WERE INTRODUCED, HE ADDED.
+THE WORKERS CONCERNED, WHO COULD HAVE RECEIVED A BIGGER COMPENSATION HAD THE REVISED MAXIMUM BEEN APPLIED, WERE ONLY. AWARDED A SMALLER SUN BECAUSE THE FORMER CEILING WAS BEING USED.
THE UNOFFICIALS
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