XN000022-1993-02-03 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1993

BETTER WAGE PROTECTION PROPOSED

THE

THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED TO RAISE THE MAXIMUM LIMIT ON AMOUNT OF EX-GRATIA PAYMENT FROM THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND IN RESPECT OF ARREARS OF WAGES AND WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE.

MOVING

TO

ON OF WAGES COUNCIL TODAY CHAN, MR JOHN

EMPLOYEES

IN

SECOND THE

READING OF THE PROTECTION BILL 1993 IN THE INSOLVENCY (AMENDMENT)

LEGISLATIVE (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER,

AIM WAS SAID THE

TO PROVIDE BETTER PROTECTION SITUATIONS WHERE THEIR EMPLOYERS HAVE BECOME INSOLVENT.

THE PRESENT MAXIMUM LIMITS HAVE NOT BEEN REVISED SINCE 1985 AND 1987 RESPECTIVELY.

"WE PROPOSE TO RAISE THE MAXIMUM EX-GRATIA PAYMENT IN RESPECT IN OF ARREARS OF WAGES FROM $8,000 TO $18,000 PER APPLICANT; AND THAT RESPECT OF WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE FROM SEVEN DAYS' WAGES UP TO $2,000 TO ONE MONTH'S WAGES UP TO $6,000, MR CHAN SAID.

THESE WITH

AMENDMENTS,

OF OVER 90 PER CENT

APPLICANTS FOR

ARREARS OF WAGES WOULD BE ABLE TO RECOVER THEIR FULL ENTITLEMENTS.

NOTICE, THE

"AS REGARDS WAGES IN LIEU OF

REVISION INCREASE THE COVERAGE SUBSTANTIALLY ALTHOUGH WE CANNOT ASCERTAIN EXTENT OF THE INCREASE AT THIS STAGE."

MR

WOULD

THE

IN CHAN

INCREASE SAID THE PROPOSAL WOULD NOT INVOLVE ANY

YEAR ON EACH THE EXISTING LEVEL OF LEVY, WHICH IS $250 A

COVER THE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO INCREASED PAYMENT FROM THE FUND.

LEVY AS BUSINESS

THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO SIMPLIFY THE PROCEDURE FOR ADJUSTING THE

CEILING PAYMENT

ARREARS ON

OF WAGES

FOR FUTURE BY PROVIDING ADJUSTMENTS TO BE MADE BY RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

BRITAIN WILL ENSURE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF JOINT DECLARATION

JOINT

DECLARATION

IS FULLY

AFTER AND

BRITAIN'S PRINCIPAL OBLIGATION WITH RESPECT TO HONG KONG

THE 1997 WILL BE TO ENSURE THAT FAITHFULLY IMPLEMENTED.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY

FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS,

MR MICHAEL SZE, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

CONRAD

/MR SZE

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