TNAG-1607-FCO40-22122-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 81

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maternity leave and entitlement to statutory holiday pay

during such leave. The Labour Advisory Board endorsed

these amendments and they were enacted in July 1984.

The legislation was reviewed again in 1983 and

1985, and the most recent review was completed at the end

of 1986. The main purpose of this last review was to

consider whether additional protection was necessary

against termination of employment during the early stages

of pregnancy and whether there should be provision for

earlier resumption of work after confinement, if the

employee herself so wishes. The Labour Department will

now consult the Labour Advisory Board on proposals in both

these areas.

Complaints about the operation of the

legislation account. for a very small proportion of the

complaints dealt with by the

Labour Department's Labour Labour

Relations Service. There were 129

complaints in 1986,

slightly fewer than in 1985, and less than 0.7 per cent of

the total. Analysis of these complaints shows no evidence

of exploitation of the legislation by employers to avoid

Most of the complaints arose from

liability.

misunderstanding of the provisions.

The Labour Department will continue to review

this legislation from time to time.