XN000022-1983-10-12 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1983

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NO DEPARTURE FROM BILL'S INTENTION

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR RON BRIDGE, STRESSED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE AMENDMENTS TO THE PAID SICK LEAVE BILL PROPOSED BY THE UMELCO INVOLVED NO DEPARTURE FROM THE BILL'S ORIGINAL INTENTION TO PROVIDE MORE PROTECTION FOR EMPLOYEES SUFFER,NG FROM PROLONGED SICKNESS.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PROPOSED NEW 120-DAY MAXIMUM OF SICK LEAVE AND THE NEW MAXIMUM SICK LEAVE EARNING RATE OF FOUR DAYS A MONTH REMAINED UNCHANGED.

+WHILE THE MAIN AIM OF THE AMENDMENTS IS TO PROVIDE SAFEGUARDS AGAINST POSSIBLE ABUSES, THE SAFEGUARDS NOW PROPOSED ARE IN SOME WAYS LESS RESTRICTIVE AND MORE REALISTIC THAN THOSE INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL BILL AS GAZETTED, HE ADDED.

THANKING UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS FOR THE TROUBLE THEY HAD TAKEN IN EXAMINING THE BILL AND PROPOSING WORKABLE AMENDMENTS MR BRIDGE SAID THAT IN HIS VIEW THE AMENDED BILL REPRESENTED A REASONABLE COMPROMISE BETWEEN SHARPLY CONFLICTING VIEWS AND HAD BEEN WELCOMED AS SUCH IN A NUMBER OF NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS,

*IF EXPERIENCE OF THE PRACTICAL WORKING OF THE NEW SCHEME PROVES THAT FURTHER CHANGES ARE NECESSARY, I WILL RECOMMEND FURTHER AMENDMENTS AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD, + HE NOTED.

REFERRING TO CRITICISM BY EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATIONS OF THE WORKING OF THE BOARD, MR BRIDGE OBSERVED THAT ON A BOARD WHICH DEALT WITH CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS ON WHICH THERE WERE SHARPLY DIVIDED VIEWS, THERE WERE BOUND TO BE SOME TENSIONS.

+NEVERTHELESS THE BOARD DOES, IN MY VIEW, SERVE A USEFUL PURPOSE IN BRINGING TOGETHER EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES FOR A FRANK AND INFORMAL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS AND I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT BOTH SIDES WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IT WITH A REASONABLE DEGREE OF TOLERANCE AND GOODWILL, HE NOTED.

LATER AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE, MR BRIDGE PROPOSED THAT THE BILL SHOULD COME INTO EFFECT ON NOVEMBER 1 THIS YEAR.

AMENDMENTS WERE A COMPROMISE

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T.S. LO

THE HON T.S. LO SAID TODAY THAT THE AMENDMENTS TO THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1983, WHICH HE PROPOSED MOVING AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE, WERE MADE AGAINST THE BACKDROP THAT IN THE LONGER TERM THE INTERESTS OF EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE DO NOT CONFLICT BUT ARE IDENTICAL.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. MR LO SAID. THESE AMENDMENTS ARE MADE WITHOUT THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON BUT MERELY THE INDUSTRY OF MAN.+

/+THEY REPRESENT