XN000022-1987-12-02 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1987

MR BRIDGE SAID: "ACCORDINGLY IT IS PROPOSED TO RAISE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF COMPENSATION FOR DEATH AND FOR PERMANENT TOTAL INCAPACITY IN THE RELEVANT SECTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE FROM $299,000 TO $345,000 AND FROM $341,000 TO $394,000; AND THE MINIMUM AMOUNTS FROM $100,000 TO $116,000 AND FROM $114,000 TO $132,000. COMPENSATION FOR THE NEED FOR CONSTANT ATTENTION WILL BE RAISED FROM $137,000 TO $158,000.

"A SIMILAR 15.5 PER CENT INCREASE IS PROPOSED IN SECTION 16C AND 16J IN RESPECT OF THE MAXIMUM PAYMENTS TO BE MADE BY AN EMPLOYER TOWARDS THE COSTS OF SUPPLYING AND FITTING A PROSTHESIS OR A SURGICAL APPLIANCE AND FOR ITS REPAIR OR RENEWAL. THE PRESENT AMOUNTS $12,000 AND $37,000, WILL ACCORDINGLY BE RAISED TO $14,000 AND $43,000."

*

HE SAID IT WAS PROPOSED TO INCREASE THE SURCHARGE PAYABLE BY EMPLOYERS TO EMPLOYEES WHERE EMPLOYERS FAILED TO PAY COMPENSATION MINOR CLAIMS UNDER SECTION 16A(10) AND 17A.

THESE SURCHARGES, WHICH WERE INTRODUCED IN 1982, WERE $100 $200 AND IT WAS PROPOSED TO RAISE THEM TO $200 AND $400.

FOR

AND

PAYMENT

"THE INTENTION OF THESE SECTIONS IS TO DISCOURAGE LATE OF COMPENSATION AND THE INCREASE OF 100 PER CENT ON THE CURRENT SURCHARGE BRINGS THEM INTO LINE WITH INCREASES OF 100 PER CENT IN LEVELS OF COMPENSATION FOR PERMANENT INJURY OR DEATH WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE 1982, HE SAID.

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MR BRIDGE SAID THE MAXIMUM DAILY RATES PAYABLE BY THE EMPLOYER FOR HOSPITAL STAY AND OUT-PATIENT TREATMENT FOR AN EMPLOYEE RECEIVING MEDICAL TREATMENT ALSO REQUIRED ADJUSTMENT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT RECENT INCREASES IN THE DAILY CHARGES IN GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS.

INCREASES FROM $30 TO $40 FOR EACH DAY OF STAY IN A HOSPITAL AND FROM $15 TO $20 FOR EACH DAY OF OUT-PATIENT TREATMENT WERE PROPOSED.

HE SAID THE REVISED RATES SHOULD ENABLE AN EMPLOYEE TO RECOVER FULL MEDICAL EXPENSES FROM HIS EMPLOYER IF HE RECEIVED TREATMENT IN A GOVERNMENT OR SUBVENTED HOSPITAL OR TO RECEIVE A REASONABLE SUBSIDY IF HE CHOSE TO OBTAIN TREATMENT AT PRIVATE HOSPITALS OR FROM PRIVATE DOCTORS.

DEEMED

MR BRIDGE ALSO SAID THAT SECTION 11(5) OF THE ORDINANCE AN EMPLOYER'S MINIMUM EARNINGS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CALCULATING COMPENSATION TO BE $800. THIS FIGURE WAS BASED ON THE LEVEL OF SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE FOR A SINGLE PERSON UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHEME. IT WAS PROPOSED TO INCREASE THIS FIGURE TO $920 IN ITS CURRENT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE EQUIVALENT.

ASSISTANCE

LINE WITH

CONSULTED INCREASE THESK

THE SECRETARY ADDED: "THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD WAS IN JULY AND UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED A PROPOSAL то COMPENSATION RATES IN LINE WITH THE INCREASE IN WAGES. HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL FIGURES NOW PROPOSED HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN ADJUSTED IN THE LIGHT OF THE LATEST INFORMATION ON WAGE RATES."

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