TNAG-0876-FCO40-1086-Development-of-social-welfare-policy-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 13

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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been assisted in this by trade unions which are fairly efficient

watchdogs of workers' rights and welfare. No information on Taiwan

is available. It is believed that the law is largely unenforced

in other countries.

1.7

The Working Group further concluded that for purposes of comparison of maternity benefits in the Asian region, Singapore,

Malaysia and perhaps Taiwan should be the focus of attention since

they are similar to Hong Kong in the level of development and law

enforcement.

United Kingdom

1.8

The orking Group then briefly examined raternity benefits under labour legislation in the United Kingdom. It noted that under the Employment Protection Act 1975 a female employee is entitled to the following benefits provided she has been continuously employed by the same employer for not less than 2 years until imme-

diately before the 11th weel: before the expected week of confinerent:

(a) maternity leave (period unspecified);

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(b) right to return to work: up to the 29th week

(may be extended to the 33rd week) after the

weck of confinement; and

(c) maternity pay for 6 weeks starting on or after

the beginning of the 11th week before the expected week of confinement. Maternity pay is stipulated at 90% of normal pay minus any maternity allowance

under the ccial Security Act 1975,

The Working Group noted that conditions in the United

Kingdom are very different from Hong Kong and that maternity benefits in the United Kingdom are financed jointly by employers through labour legislation and by social insurance under the Social Security Act 1975. is there is no comprehensive social security system in Hong Kong, the orking Group concluded that the United Kingdon model of proviing for aternity benefits is not appropriate for Hong Kong. However, it accented that there would be presentational advantage. in ensuring that the eventual package for long long did not compare

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