XN000022-1987-07-01 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1987

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IN THE CASE OF WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE, MR PAGLIARI SAID SOME WORKERS WERE CONTRACTUALLY ENTITLED TO A LONGER PERIOD OF NOTICE WHILE THE VAST MAJORITY OF LOWER-PAID WORKERS WERE LEGALLY ENTITLED TO SEVEN DAYS' NOTICE AND COULD STAND AS PREFERRED CREDITORS FOR ONLY THAT AMOUNT.

HE SAID THOSE LOWER PAID WORKERS WOULD BE COVERED IN FULL BY THE PROPOSAL IN THE PRESENT BILL.

"THE FORTUNATE MINORITY WHO ARE CONTRACTUALLY ENTITLED ΤΟ MORE, AND WHO TEND ΤΟ BE THE BETTER-PAID EMPLOYEES, WILL RECEIVE THE SANE COVERAGE FROM THE FUND AND WILL STAND AS PREFERRED REDITORS FOR THE BALANCE.

"I CAN SEE NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THE FUND BEING REQUIRED) ΤΟ DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN ONE WORKER AND ANOTHER WHICH WOULD BT. THE INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCE OF MR SZETO'S AMENDMENT,'

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CAUTION IN MANAGEMENT OF FUND URGED

THE HON

STEPHEN CHEONG TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SPOKE AGAINST A MOTION BY THE HON SZETO WAH WHICH SOUGHT TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND FROM SEVEN DAYS' IN LIEU OF NOTICE TO 30 DAYS.

PAYMENT

OF THIS YET, IF HAVE AN THIS

"ALTHOUGH I RECOGNISE THAT EACH AND EVERY MEMBER COUNCIL. HAS THE RIGHT TO PROPOSE ANY MOTIONS OR AMENDMENTS, THIS AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED TODAY, I FEAR IT WOULD CERTAINLY UNSETTLING EFFECT ON THE WELL TRIED WAY THROUGH WHICH MEMBERS OF COUNCIL WOULD MONITOR, DEVELOP AND REFINE, THROUGH GENERAL CONSENSUS, GOVERNMENT POLICY PROPOSALS, HE SAID.

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MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE BELIEVED THAT THE AMENDMENT, IF ADOPTED, RAN THE RISK OF CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS A FASTER PACE OF DEPLETION OF THE FUND.

"WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO PROTECT AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE PROMPT RELIEF TO OUR WORKFORCE, AGAINST THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATION WHEREBY THEY MAY BE OWED WAGES BY INSOLVENT ESTABLISHMENTS," HE SAID.

HE SAID THE LOGIC IN SUPPORT OF EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF THE FUND, WHICH WAS THAT THE FUND WAS NOW IN GOOD SHAPE, WAS QUESTIONABLE.

"WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE FUND WERE NOT IN GOOD FINANCIAL SHAPE TO-DATE?" HE QUESTIONED.

/HE ALSO