XN000022-1988-05-13 — Page 9

FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1988

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INCREASE IN ADVANCE PAYMENTS TO PNEUMOCONIOTIC VICTIMS PROPOSED

THE AMOUNT OF ADVANCE PAYMENTS WHICH VICTIMS OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS MAY RECEIVE WILL BE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IF THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL, PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY), IS ENACTED.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID THE BILL PROPOSED TO EMPOWER THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND BOARD TO MAKE ADVANCE PAYMENTS OF UP TO $20,000 TO SUCH NEEDY PERSONS PENDING SETTLEMENT DETERMINATION OF COMPENSATION CLAIMS.

OR

AT PRESENT, THE AMOUNT OF ADVANCE PAYMENT IN EACH CASE IS LIMITED TO $1,000 ONLY.

"AS THIS IS TOO SMALL TO REALLY HELP THE VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS, IT IS PROPOSED TO INCREASE THE ADVANCE PAYMENT TO RELIEVE THEIR FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING ON THE 25TH OF THIS MONTH.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS RECENTLY AMENDED THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) (COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS) REGULATIONS ΤΟ INCREASE THE ASSUMED AMOUNT OF MINIMUM MONTHLY EARNINGS OF A PNEUMOCON 1OTIC PERSON FROM $100 TO $920 AND TO RE-DEFINE FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT AS "EMPLOYMENT FOR NOT LESS THAN 40 HOURS DURING A MINIMUM PERIOD OF FIVE DAYS IN ANY ONE WEEK"

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE AMENDMENT REGULATIONS WERE INTRODUCED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CALCULATING COMPENSATION UNDER THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE AS WELL AS BRINGING THEM INTO LINE WITH THE CORRESPONDING PROVISIONS IN THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.

THE AMENDMENTS IN THE BILL AND THE REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD.

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