XN000022-1983-08-21 — Page 5

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 1983

EMPLOYERS REMINDED ABOUT FLOATING HOLIDAY

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A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (SUNDAY) REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY FIXED THE DATE OF THE SECOND FLOATING HOLIDAY FOR THIS YEAR AND THEIR EMPLOYEES HAVE NOT REQUESTED THAT IT BE ADDED TO THEIR PAID ANNUAL LEAVE, THEY SHOULD GIVE EMPLOYEES THE SECOND FLOATING HOLIDAY ON MONDAY (AUGUST 29).

UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, EMPLOYERS HAD TO FIX THE TWO FLOATING HOLIDAYS AND NOTIFY EMPLOYEES BY A NOTICE PLACED AT A CONSPICUOUS PLACE BEFORE THE END OF THE PRECEDING YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

UNDER THE ORDINANCE ALL MANUAL EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING DOMESTIC SERVANTS EMPLOYED LOCALLY OR FROM OVERSEAS COUNTRIES, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR EARNINGS, AND ALL NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES EARNING NOT MORE THAN $7 500 A MONTH, ARE ENTITLED TO THE HOLIDAY.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THEY MUST ALSO BE PAID FOR THE DAY-OFF IF THEY HAVE WORKED CONTINUOUSLY FOR THREE MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY.

HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO THE EMPLOYEE'S EARNINGS, INCLUDING WAGES AND ALLOWANCES, BUT EXCLUDING 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, THE SPOKESMAN CONTINUED, HE MUST BE GIVEN AN ALTERNATIVE DAY-OFF WITHIN 60 DAYS BEFORE OR AFTER THAT DAY.

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.

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

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

ENQUIRIES ABOUT STATUTORY HOLIDAYS MAY BE MADE TO THE NEAREST BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE. THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE FOR KOWLOON EAST 3-205638; KOWLOON WEST 3-201652; KOWLOON SOUTH 3-3194541 KWUN TONG 3-898520: TSUEN WAN 0-4980100; TAI PO O-6577111 EXT. 114; TUEN MUN 0-818443; HONG KONG ISLAND (WEST) 5-268671 AND HONG KONG ISLAND (EAST) 5-282523.

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