XN000022-1990-06-06 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990

FINALLY, THE BILL PROVIDED A QUALIFYING PERIOD OF 12 WEEKS OF CONTINUOUS EMPLOYMENT BEFORE A PREGNANT EMPLOYEE WAS PROTECTED FROM BEING DISMISSED.

IN CONSIDERING THAT THE AMENDMENTS MIGHT INCUR HUGE FINANCIAL LIABILITIES TO EMPLOYERS, THE AD HOC GROUP AGREED THAT A PHASED IMPLEMENTATION FOR SEVERANCE AND LONG SERVICE PAYMENTS SHOULD BE ADOPTED FOR EMPLOYEES EARNING MORE THAN $15,000 A MONTH.

MR CHENG SAID THE PHASING BEGAN BY CALCULATING THE BASIS OF THREE YEARS' PAST SERVICE FROM THE FIRST ENACTMENT OF THE BILL.

ENTITLEMENT ON YEAR OF THE

THEREAFTER, TWO MORE YEARS OF PAST SERVICE WERE YEARLY BASIS UNTIL THE MAXIMUM ENTITLEMENT OF 18 YEARS' WAS REACHED IN THE EIGHTH YEAR FROM 1990, HE ADDED.

ADDED ON A PAST SERVICE

HE STRESSED THAT THE ARRANGEMENT WOULD NOT AFFECT MANUAL EMPLOYEES WHOSE ENTITLEMENT WOULD BE CALCULATED AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.

"

AS CONVENER OF THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP FORMED TO STUDY THE BILL, MR CHENG SAID: 'WHILST IT DOES HAVE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYERS, I AM PERSONALLY SATISFIED THAT IT WILL BE WELL-RECEIVED EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE THE WELFARE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AT HEART.

BY

IN

"AFTER ALL, MANPOWER IS A MAJOR ASSET FOR ANY ENTERPRISE. HONG KONG, AS WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR OUR PROSPERITY AND STABILITY FOR THE YEARS AHEAD, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE WELFARE OUR WORKFORCE TRULY DESERVES."

THE AD HOC GROUP HAD MET 12 TIMES AND RECEIVED 10 REPRESENTATIONS FROM VARIOUS CONCERNED GROUPS.

REMOVAL OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MANUAL AND NON-MANUAL WORKERS WELCOMED

LEGISLATIVE TOLD THE

ON

THE WHICH THAT MET

COUNCIL TODAY ARCULLI THE HON RONALD

BEEN REACHED (WEDNESDAY) HE WAS HAPPY THAT A COMPROMISE HAD REMOVAL OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MANUAL AND NON-MANUAL WORKERS

AND INDEED, PARTLY ALLEVIATED THE TREMENDOUS,

OTHERS AND SOLICITORS ACCOUNTANTS ESTABLISHED POLICIES OF THE GOVERNMENT.

AND

FINANCIAL BURDEN WOULD FACE AND YET

(AMENDMENT) BILL 1989, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE EMPLOYMENT

DIFFERENCE WAS ACHIEVED BY THE MR ARCULLI SAID THE REMOVAL OF THE

NON-MANUAL WORKERS AT TO APPLICABLE REMOVAL OF THE PRESENT AND THE DATE ON WHICH SUCH RIGHTS WOULD ACCURE TO EMPLOYEES.

WAGE CEILING

/HOLDING THAT