XN000022-1985-09-30 — Page 12

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MONDAY, SEPTMUR. 30, 1985 İN

THE 120-PAGE REPORT GIVES A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE DRUG PROBLEM IN HONG KONG DURING 1984.

THE REPORT, PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH, IS NOW AVAILABLE AT THE NARCOTICS DIVISION, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, 31ST FLOOR, UNITED CENTRE, QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG. THE CHINESE EDITION IS BEING PRINTED AND WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON.

WORKERS' LEGAL ENTITLEMENT EXPLAINED

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PROVISIONS FOR SICKNESS ALLOWANCES, STATUTORY HOLIDAYS AND PAID ANNUAL LEAVE UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE ARE APPLICABLE TO PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN EVERY TRADE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

UNDER THE ORDINANCE, ALL MANUAL WORKERS IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR EARNINGS AND NON-MANUAL WORKERS EARNING NOT MORE THAN $9 500 A MONTH ARE ENTITLED TO 11 STATUTORY HOLIDAYS A YEAR, HE SAID.

THEY ARE ALSO ENTITLED TO SEVEN DAYS PAID ANNUAL LEAVE IF THEY HAVE SERVED THE SAME EMPLOYER FOR 12 MONTHS UNDER A "CONTINUOUS CONTRACT'.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS WHICH PROHIBIT PAYMENT IN LIEU OF THE GRANT OF A HOLIDAY OR ANNUAL LEAVE.

THE SPOKESMAN WAS QUOTING FROM A REPLY BY THE DEPARTMENT TO A LETTER FROM THE CHINESE AND WESTERN FOOD WORKERS' UNION, THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON RESTAURANT AND EATING-HOUSE EMPLOYÉES +KWAN SANG+ MUTUAL AID SOCIETY, AND THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG AND KOWLOON LABOUR UNIONS ABOUT HOLIDAYS AND SICKNESS BENEFITS EARLY THIS MONTH.

IN THE REPLY, IT IS POINTED OUT THAT ALL EMPLOYEES ARE ENTITLED TO SICKNESS ALLOWANCE AND THAT THEY CAN DRAW THEIR SICKNESS ALLOWANCE AT TWO-THIRDS OF THEIR NORMAL DAILY WAGE, PROVIDED THAT THE SICK LEAVE IS NOT LESS THAN FOUR DAYS AND ́TI THE WORKER CAN PRODUCE A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE AN EMPLOYEE TO FIND A SUBSTITUTE WORKER AT HIS OWN EXPENSE BEFORE HE CAN ENJOY HIS ENTITLEMENT, AND NO EMPLOYER SHOULD DEDUCT A WORKER'S PAID SICKNESS DAYS FROM HIS PAID HOLIDAYS.

HE SAID THE ENFORCEMENT OF THESE PROVISIONS UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE IS MAINLY BASED ON COMPLAINTS, WHICH WILL BE FULLY INVESTIGATED. PROSECUTION WILL BE CARRIED OUT IF THE COMPLAINTS ARE PROVED TO BE GENUINE.

/AS REGARDS