XN000022-1983-10-28 — Page 3

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1983

PAID SICK LEAVE LAW EFFECTIVE TUESDAY

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THE LAW INCREASING THE RATE OF PAID SICK LEAVE COMES INTO OPERATION ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 1), ACCORDING TO A NOTICE PUBLISHED

ON TUESDAY IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THE LAW KNOWN AS THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1983, APPLIES TO ALL MANUAL EMPLOYEES AND ALSO TO NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES EARNING NOT MORE THAN $8 500 A MONTH.

UNDER THE ORDINANCE, AN EMPLOYEE IS ENTITLED TO SICKNESS ALLOWANCE AT AN IMPROVED RATE OF TWO DAYS PAID SICK LEAVE FOR EACH MONTH OF SERVICE DURING THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF EMPLOYMENT AND FOUR DAYS FOR EACH MONTH THEREAFTER.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PAID SICKNESS DAYS.

THE FIRST TYPE IS MADE UP OF PAID SICK LEAVE ACCUMULATED UP TO 36 DAYS, WHICH MAY BE TAKEN BY PRODUCING A CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY ANY MEDICAL PRACTITIONER,

THE SECOND TYPE IS MADE UP OF LEAVE IN EXCESS OF 36 DAYS AND MAY BE ACCUMULATED UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 84 DAYS.

WHEN THE FIRST TYPE OF PAID SICKNESS DAYS IS EXHAUSTED AND THE EMPLOYEE HAS TO TAKE THE SECOND TYPE OF PAID SICKNESS DAYS, THE EMPLOYER MAY REQUIRE HIM TO PRODUCE A CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY A HOSPITAL DOCTOR.

AN EMPLOYER IS NOT ALLOWED TO TERMINATE THE EMPLOYMENT OF AN EMPLOYEE DURING SICK LEAVE UNLESS HE PAYS HIM WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE, THE FULL SICKNESS ALLOWANCE TO WHICH HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ENTITLED AND AN ADDITIONAL SUM EQUAL TO SEVEN DAYS' WAGES.

THE ORDINANCE, HE ADDED, ALSO REQUIRES AN EMPLOYER TO RECORD THE PAID SICKNESS DAYS ACCUMULATED AND TAKEN AS WELL AS ALLOWANCE PAID TO EACH EMPLOYEE. A SPECIMEN FORM FOR RECORD-KEEPING HAS BEEN POSTED UP IN ALL OFFICES OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE.

A QUIDE TO THE SICKNESS BENEFITS PROVISIONS IN THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WILL BE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE IN THOSE OFFICES AND THE TWO REGIONAL OFFICES OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT EARLY NEXT MONTH.

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