XN000022-1989-12-13 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1989

DUTY

AS REGARDS THE EMPLOYEES, MRS LAU SAID WHILST THE PRIMARY

RESTED ON THE PROPRIETORS. THE OF PROVIDING A SAFE SYSTEM OF WORK EMPLOYEES SHOULD NOT BE EXONERATED FROM ALL RESPONSIBILITY,

THE PROVISION AND FOR THOSE WHO THERE CAN BE NO

"EVEN IF THE PENALTY MAY SOUND A BIT DRACONIAN, REALLY AIMS TO CATCH ONLY THOSE WHO ACT WILFULLY, ACT WILFULLY IN DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS, SYMPATHY, SHE SAID,

ONLY MOST UNSCRUPULOUS EMPLOYERS SHOULD BE JAILED

TODAY AND

TIEN THE HON JAMES

SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (WEDNESDAY) THAT HE HOPES ONLY THE MOST UNSCRUPULOUS OF EMPLOYERS

FOR VIOLATING THE THE MOST NEGLIGENT OF EMPLOYEES WOULD BE JAILED FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT BILL 1989.

SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, WHICH AIMED AT PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, MR TIEN HOPED THAT EMPLOYERS WOULD

ΤΟ ATTENTION ALWAYS BE GIVEN THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, WITH DUE NOTION OF "WILFULNESS" AND "REASONABLE EXCUSE".

THE

OF WORK

THE

SAFETY

WAS A HE SAID THERE

DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVES AND SUPERVISORY STAFF IN THE FACTORIES WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THE WORKERS WERE USING THE NECESSARY MEASURES,

THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE HAD FAILED TO RECOGNISH THE DISTINCTION

PROPRIETOR", WHICH AND REFERRED TO THEM GENERALLY AS "THE

WOULD BE UNFAIR TO THE FACTORY MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTIVES.

OR

ΤΟ REASONABLE

HOLD

SENSIBLE "I DO NOT ACCEPT THAT IT IS THIS DREADFUL THREAT OVER THE HARD-WORKING INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY, WORK, NOT PRISON, SHOULD BE OUR GOAL.

"I REFUSE TO SEE THE NEED FOR ENTREPRENEURS TO BE THREATENED WITH IMPRISONMENT. HE SAID.

MR TIEN SAID HE WOULD SUPPORT THE BILL WITH RESERVATIONS AND

WITHIN URGED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A REVIEW

A STIPULATED PERIOD OF

ABOUT TWO YEARS.

ALTHOUGH THE BILL WOULD INCLUDE A CUSTODIAL

A FUNDAMENTAL OFFENDERS, MR TIEN SAID THERE WAS STILL

IDEA.

POR SENTENCE

THE FLAW IN THE

AND HE SAID THAT BOTH THE EMPLOYERS BENEFITTED BY SUCH A PROPOSED PENALTY. AND A HIGHER THE INJURED WORKER WOULD SEEM TO BE MORE APPROPRIATE.

EMPLOYEES WOULD NOT BE COMPENSATION FOR

/MR TIEN

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