XN000022-1993-05-29 — Page 4

SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1993

"FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY AT WORK, THEY SHOULD BE RELEASED SOON AS PRACTICABLE. MR CHAN SAID.

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AS

PRIORITY

HAVING REGARD TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, MR CHAN SAID LEAVE THE WORK PLACE SHOULD BE GIVEN TO EMPLOYEES WHO LIVE IN REMOTE AREAS OR WHERE PUBLIC TRANSPORT WAS NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE.

ΤΟ

THE BLACK RAINSTORM WARNING INDICATES THAT THE CONDITIONS ARE INCLEMENT AND THE ROADS ARE SERIOUSLY FLOODED,

WEATHER

HE SAID.

"IF SUCH WARNING IS ISSUED DURING WORKING HOURS, EMPLOYERS

SHOULD LET THEIR EMPLOYEES REMAIN IN A SAFE PLACE UNTIL THE WARNING IS CANCELLED AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS HAVE IMPROVED.

"FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET REPORTED FOR DUTY, THEY SHOULD FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TO STAY AT HOME OR TAKE SHELTER IN A SAFE PLACE UNTIL THE RAINSTORM HAS PASSED.

"PERSONAL SAFETY SHOULD BE THE PRIME CONSIDERATION DECIDING ON THE APPROPRIATE WORK ARRANGEMENTS, HE ADVISED.

H

IF EMPLOYEES HAVE TO WORK DURING TYPHOONS OR RAINSTORMS, REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE CLEARLY STATED BEFORE THE EMPLOYMENT STARTS.

WHEN

SUCH

EMPLOYERS SHOULD PROVIDE THESE EMPLOYEES WITH ADEQUATE FACILITIES TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY AT WORK UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES,

THE AGREEMENTS SHOULD ALSO SPELL OUT THE METHOD OF WAGE CALCULATION UNDER THE VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.

MR CHAN APPEALED TO EMPLOYERS NOT TO DEDUCT ATTENDANCE BONUS FROM EMPLOYEES WHO CANNOT REPORT FOR WORK OR ARE LATE FOR WORK DUE TO TYPHOONS OR RAINSTORMS.

"EMPLOYERS SHOULD ALSO SPECIFY THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH EMPLOYEES SHOULD RETURN TO WORK WHEN THE TYPHOON SIGNALS OR RAINSTORM WARNINGS ARE LOWERED DURING WORKING HOURS.

"IN DRAWING UP AGREEMENTS ON WORK ARRANGEMENTS IN TIMES OF TYPHOONS AND RAINSTORMS, EMPLOYERS SHOULD CONSIDER THE NEEDS

OF THE EMPLOYEES IN ADDITION TO THEIR OWN, AND SHOULD ADOPT A FLEXIBLE APPROACH WHEREVER POSSIBLE, HE SAID.

COPIES OF A LEAFLET ON ARRANGEMENT OF WORK IN TIMES OF TYPHOONS AND RAINSTORMS, PRINTED IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH SEPARATELY, ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION AT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S 11 LABOUR RELATIONS DIVISION OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

"IF ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, STAFF OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS DIVISION ARE ALWAYS READY TO OFFER ADVICE, MR CHAN ADDED.

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