XN000022-1985-03-03 — Page 10

SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 1985

MARKET RATE FOR OVERSEAS HELPERS REVISED

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WITH EFFECT FROM MARCH 11, EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS FOR FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS ATTESTED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR

MUST CARRY A MONTHLY WAGE OF NOT LESS THAN THE $1 800 TO $1 950 RANGE.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION WOULD, FROM THAT DATE, ONLY CONSIDER THE ENTRY OF FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS WHO WERE PAID AT THIS MARKET RATE.

RE-ENGAGEMENT CONTRACTS ATTESTED BEFORE MARCH 11 MAY CARRY THE OLD RATE OF $1 650 TO $1 800 IF THEY TAKE EFFECT ON OR BEFORE APRIL 4, 1985, HE SAID.

REPORT MISSING HIKERS EARLY, PEOPLE TOLD

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DELAYED REPORTS OF PEOPLE FAILING TO RETURN FROM MOUNTAIN WALKS OR HIKES COULD BE A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH, THE CHIEF STAFF OFFICER OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES, MR J. A. FORTUNE, SAID TODAY.

THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL INCIDENTS THIS WINTER WHEN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS FOR LOST GROUPS OF PEOPLE HAD BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE GROUP LEADERS OR ORGANISERS NOT TAKING PART IN THE ACTUAL WALKS OR HIKES HAD DELAYED MAKING REPORTS TO THE AUTHORITIES, HE SAID.

IN SOME CASES LATE REPORTS HAD DELAYED FOR SEVERAL HOURS THE START OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE WORK OF THE CAS MOUNTAIN SEARCH AND RESCUE UNIT, HE SAID.

HE URGED PEOPLE TO CALL THE POLICE BY DIALLING 999 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ABOUT OVERDUE GROUPS.

HE ALSO URGED ORGANISERS OF WALKING GROUPS TO REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING BASIC SAFETY POINTS :

* PLAN THE ROUTE CAREFULLY

*

INFORM RELIABLE PERSONS OF WHERE YOU ARE GOING AND THE EXPECTED TIME OF COMPLETION OF THE JOURNEY

* WEAR CORRECT CLOTHING AND CARRY CORRECT EQUIPMENT,

SUCH AS SOME EMERGENCY FOOD, TORCHLIGHT, WHISTLE, A WARM WIND-PROOF JACKET, SOME THIN NYLON ROPES, WATER, MAP AND COMPASS, A NOTE-BOOK, AND SOME MONEY.

* ALWAYS KEEP A COOL HEAD.

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