XN000022-1991-10-02 — Page 11

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1991

ACCORDING TO THE GENERAL DUTIES PROVISIONS, THE PROPRIETOR of AN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING HAS THE DUTY TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN A SAFE PLANT AND SYSTEM OF WORK, A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND A SAFE WORKPLACE INCLUDING ALL MEANS OF ACCESS ΤΟ AND EGRESS FROM THE

WORKPLACE.

HE MUST ALSO ENSURE SAFETY IN THE USE, HANDLING, STORAGE AND TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES AND SUBSTANCES, AND PROVIDE HIS EMPLOYEES WITH ALL NECESSARY SAFETY INFORMATION, INSTRUCTION, TRANINING AND

SUPERVISION.

ANY PROPRIETOR WHO FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE

THE GENERAL DUTIES PROVISIONS WILFULLY AND WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE IS LIABLE TO

TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $30,000 AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.

PREGNANT EMPLOYEES PROTECTED FROM DISMISSAL

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT

TODAY (WEDNESDAY) REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT A PREGNANT EMPLOYEE WITH NO LESS THAN 12 WEEKS' SERVICE 19 PROTECTED BY LAW FROM DISMISSAL AFTER SERVING NOTICE TO HER EMPLOYER. OF HER INTENTION TO TAKE MATERNITY LEAVE.

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"TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROTECTION, THE EMPLOYEE MUST, HOWEVER, HAVE NO LESS THAN

WEEKS' SERVICE WITH THE EMPLOYER WHEN HER MATERNITY LEAVE BEGINS, THE CHIEF LABOUR OFFICER, MR JAMES YEUNG, EXPLAINED.

"ACCORDING TO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, A FEMALE EMPLOYEE Wila HAS WORKED FOR THE SAME EMPLOYER UNDER A CONTINUOUS CONTRACT FOR NO FEWER THAN 26 WEEKS IS ENTITLED TO MATERNITY LEAVE WHICH NORMALLY BEGINS FOUR WEEKS BEFORE THE EXPECTED DATE OF CONFINEMENT AND ENDS SIX WEEKS AFTER THE ACTUAL DATE OF CONFINEMENT, MR YEUNG ADDED.

**

HE SAID THE NOTICE SERVED BY THE EMPLOYER SHOULD STATE THE EXPECTED DATE OF CONFINEMENT AND THE DATE OF

COMMENCEMENT OF MATERNITY LEAVE AND SHOULD

BE SUPPORTED BY

BY A RELEVANT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.

DURING MATERNITY LEAVE, AN

PAY "HOWEVER, TO BE ENTITLED TO EMPLOYEE MUST HAVE WORKED CONTINUOUSLY FOR THE EMPLOYER FOR NO FEWER THAN 40 WEEKS PRIOR TO TAKING THE LEAVE," MR YEUNG NOTED.

"IN ADDITION, THE EMPLOYEE MUST HAVE NOT MORE THẦN two SURVIVING CHILDREN AND MUST PRODUCE ΤΟ HER EMPLOYER A STATUTORY DECLARATION VERIFYING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SHE HAS, HE SAID.

THE STATUTORY DECLARATION, WHICH ts REQUIRED ONLY FOR SUPPORTING A CLAIM FOR THE PAY, MAY BE OBTAINED FROM ANY LABOUR

RELATIONS SERVICE BRANCH OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT.

/"IT MAY