XN000022-1992-03-15 — Page 2

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 1992

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STATUTORY BENEFITS OF IMPORTED WORKERS PROTECTED

IMPORTED WORKERS ARE ENTITLED TO EXACTLY THE SAME RIGHTS AND PROTECTION AS LOCAL WORKERS UNDER THE LABOUR LAWS,

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR' MR MAK SA1-YIU TODAY (ŞUNDAY} REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT THEY MUST GIVE IMPORTED WORKERS THEIR STATUTORY BENEFITS AND THE FULL AMOUNT OF WAGES.

HE NOTED THAT THREE EMPLOYERS HAD RECENTLY BEEN FINED BY THE COURTS FOR INFRINGING THE RIGHTS OF IMPORTED WORKERS.

OF

FOR

MR MAK CITED A RECENT COURT CASE IN WHICH THE PROPRIETOR HIP HING MACHINE AND METAL FACTORY IN TSUEN WAN WAS FINED $1,500 ILLEGALLY DEDUCTING $380 FROM THE WAGES OF AN IMPORTED WORKER.

"ACCORDING TO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, AN EMPLOYER IS NOT ALLOWED TO DEDUCT THE WAGES OF HIS EMPLOYEES EXCEPT UNDER CONDITIONS AND UP TO CERTAIN LIMITS STIPULATED IN THE LAW, FOR THE PROVISION OF FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION AND RECOVERY OF LOANS MADE BY THE EMPLOYER," HE EXPLAINED.

-

SPECIFIC SUCH AS

"ANY DEDUCTION FROM AN IMPORTED WORKER'S WAGES OTHER THAN IS PERMITTED BY THE ORDINANCE IS UNLAWFUL,' HE ADDED.

MR MAK NOTED THAT AN AMENDMENT ΤΟ THE ORDINANCE HAD BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SEEKING TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR THE OFFENCE TO A FINE OF $100,000 PLUS ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT.

IN ANOTHER CASE, THE PROPRIETOR OF YUEN LEE COMPANY IN TUEN MUN WAS FINED $500 FOR FAILING TO GRANT A STATUTORY HOLIDAY TO AN IMPORTED WORKER, CONTRARY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE.

EMPLOYERS WHO BREACHED THE REQUIREMENT ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $10,000.

MR MAK ALSO REMINDED EMPLOYERS TO TAKE OUT INSURANCE POLICIES FOR THEIR IMPORTED WORKERS AS REQUIRED UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.

IN

HE NOTED THAT THE FUNG CHEONG LOONG INDUSTRIAL COMPANY LIMITED KHAI CHUNG HAD BEEN FINED $1,500 RECENTLY BY A TSUEN WAN MAGISTRATE FOR FAILING TO INSURE FOR ITS EMPLOYEES, IMPORTED WORKERS.

"ALL EMPLOYERS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE COVER THEIR FULL LIABILITIES TO COMPENSATE UNDER THE ORDINANCE AND UNDER COMMON LAW,

INCLUDING THREE

OUT INSURANCE

WORKERS HE SAID.

"OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE, ON SUMMARY CONVICTION, $20,000 AND TO IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR," HE NOTED.

POLICIES то INJURED AT WORK

TO A FINE OF

WILL

MR MAK STRESSED THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST EXPLOITATION OF IMPORTED WORKERS PROSECUTE OFFENDING EMPLOYERS WHEN THERE IS EVIDENCE.

STEP UP AND WILL

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