XN000022-1983-10-12 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1983

FATHER MCGOVERN SAID HE WOULD ABSTAIN FROM VOTING AT ALL FURTHER STAGES OF THE BILL IN ORDER NOT TO OPPOSE +WHATEVER GOOD IS LEFT IN THIS BILL, +

KE WENT ON TO REGISTER HIS DISGUST NOT ONLY AT THE WAY THE BILL HAS BEEN MANGLED BY AMENDMENT, BUT BY THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN AND WILL BE DONE TO HARMONIOUS INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AT THIS SENSITIVE TIME IN HONG KONG'S HISTORY.+

FATHER MCGOVERN POINTED OUT THAT THE CHANGES TO BE MADE BY AMENDMENTS WERE UNFAVOURABLE TO WORKERS 1-

* THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DAYS PAID SICK LEAVE FROM

2 TO 4 FOR NEW WORKERS IS DELAYED FROM 3 MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS.

*

THE HOSPITAL CLAUSE, WHICH WAS DROPPED IN JULY, IS REINTRODUCED IN A LESS DEMANDING BUT MORE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER FORM.

THE BASIC NON-HOSPITAL SICK LEAVE IS REDUCED FROM 120 OR 90 DAYS BACK TO THE PRESENT 36 DAYS.

ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE AD HOC GROUP, THE HON ANDREW SO, ALSO ABSTAINED FROM VOTING.

HE SAID HE HAD WELCOMED THE ORIGINAL BILL BECAUSE IT WAS IN ESSENCE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SICK WORKERS IN THE ABSENCE OF A COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME.

THE COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENTS SOUGHT TO PREVENT EMPLOYEES WHO WERE NOT GENUINELY ILL, FROM OBTAINING PAID SICK LEAVE, AND TO PROVIDE GREATER SICK LEAVE BENEFITS FOR WORKERS WITH LONGER SERVICE.

HE FELT HOWEVER THAT THERE WERE PROVISIONS IN THE EXISTING LEGISLATION TO FORESTALL ABUSE.

AD HOC UNOFFICIAL GROUP MEMBERS SPEAK ON BILL

****

SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC GROUP OF UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS CONSIDERING THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SPOKE AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL.

HON WONG LAM, HON F.K. HU, HON WONG PO-YAN, HON K.C. CHAN, HON STEPHEN CHEONG, HON MRS SELINA CHOW AND DR HON HENRIETTA IP SUPPORTED THE MOTION.

MR WONG SAID THAT THE EXISTING PROVISION OF 36 DAYS OF ANNUAL PAID SICK LEAVE WAS INSUFFICIENT FOR WORKERS SUFFERING FROM MORE CHRONIC OR SERIOUS DIESASES, AND IT WAS THEREFORE +IN PRINCIPLE VERY APPROPRIATE TO INCREASE PAID SICK LEAVE AT AN EARLIER DATE TO AFFORD BETTER PROTECTION TO WORKERS.+

/THE BURDEN