XN000022-1985-08-27 — Page 15

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1985

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WORKERS TO RECEIVE PAYMENTS FROM WAGE FUND

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ABOUT 270 FORMER EMPLOYEES OF THE DEFUNCT CITY PARK RESTAURANTS LIMITED WILL RECEIVE PAYMENTS AMOUNTING TO $670 000 FROM THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND THIS WEEK.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE WAGE SECURITY UNIT OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID THE WORKERS LOST THEIR JOBS WHEN THE THREE RESTAURANTS AND A LOUNGE OPERATED BY THE COMPANY CEASED OPERATION ON JULY 10, FOLLOWING A HIGH COURT DECISION APPOINTING THE OFFICIAL RECEIVER AS PROVISIONAL LIQUIDATOR.

THE WORKERS, WHO WERE OWED WAGES IN ARREARS SINCE JUNE 16, HAD SINCE APPLIED FOR EX-GRATIA PAYMENT FROM THE PROTECTION OF WAGÈS ON INSOLVENCY FUND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE APPLICATIONS HAD BEEN VERIFIED AGAINST THE WAGE AND EMPLOYMENT RECORDS KEPT BY THE COMPANY AND A NUMBER OF ENQUIRIES HAD BEEN MADE WITH THE MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES' REPRESENTATIVES OF THE RESTAURANTS.

HE SAID LETTERS WERE NOW BE ING SENT TO APPLICANTS TO INFORM THEM TO COLLECT THE IR PAYMENTS FROM THE FUND AT THE OFFICE OF THE WAGE SECURITY UNIT AT TAI SANG COMMERCIAL BUILDING, HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI.

THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND. ADMINISTERED BY A BOARD APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, BEGAN OPERATION IN APRIL THIS YEAR TO PROVIDE QUICK CASH RELIEF TO EMPLOYEES WHOSE EMPLOYERS HAD BECOME INSOLVENT.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE EMPLOYERS WERE REQUIRED TO KEEP AND MAINTAIN A RECORD SETTING OUT THE WAGE AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY OF EACH EMPLOYEE IN THE PRECEDING SIX MONTHS OF HIS EMPLOYMENT.

THE RECORD SHOULD ALSO BE KEPT FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS AFTER THE EMPLOYEE HAD CEASED TO BE EMPLOYED.

HE REMINDED EMPLOYEES THAT THEY SHOULD ALSO KEEP SOME SORT OF RECORD OF THE IR OWN IN RESPECT OF THE IR WAGES, LEAVE AND OTHER ENTITLEMENTS THIS WOULD SPEED UP THE PROCESS OF VERIFICATION AS AN APPLICANT COULD PROVIDE RECORDS IN SUPPORT OF HIS APPLICATION.

UNDER THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY ORDINANCE, AN APPLICANT WHO APPLIED FOR PAYMENT FROM THE FUND MAY ASK FOR A REVIC. BY THE FUND BOARD IF HE WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DECISION OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR IN RESPECT OF THE AMOUNT PAID TO HIM.

HOWEVER, SINCE THE FUND COMMENCED OPERATION IN APRIL, NO

REQUEST FOR REVIEW HAD BEEN RECEIVED SO FAR, HE ADDED.

TO DATE, THERE WERE 2 290 APPLICATIONS FOR PAYMENTS FROM THE FUND AND THE AMOUNT CLAIMED WAS ABOUT $4.8 MILLION.

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