ENG-1982 — Page 88

EMPLOYMENT

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ensuring that workers are physically fit and that the work does not adversely affect their health.

Occupational health officers and nurses of the division are also involved in the assessment and rehabilitation of injured workers and the staffing of medical boards required to implement the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, and to deal with cases of silicosis under the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance.

The division's laboratory carries out analytical tests on biological samples from workers' urine, blood, and other samples from the working environment such as the concentration of silica. It also assists in conducting analyses required by the general air pollution monitoring programme in Hong Kong.

Employees' Compensation

The Employees' Compensation Division of the Labour Department administers the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance. The division ensures that injured employees and dependants of deceased employees covered by the Employees' Compensation Ordinance obtain from their employers, without undue delay, compensation in respect of injuries or death caused by accidents or occupational diseases arising out of and in the course of employment. It also ensures that people covered by the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance obtain compensation as soon as possible from a special fund.

Further important legislative changes were introduced during the year with the enactment of the Employees' Compensation (Amendment) Ordinance 1982. These changes, to be operative in stages commencing in mid-1983, represent the final stage in the implementation of the recommendations of the working party appointed by the Commissioner for Labour in 1978 to carry out a comprehensive review of the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance - retitled the Employees' Compensation Ordinance in 1980. They include the introduction of compulsory insurance; the establishment of a statutory two-tier Employees' Compensation Assessment Board; the introduction of a simple certification system for the settlement of minor claims; various measures to expedite the processing of employees' compensation cases; and miscellaneous amendments aimed at removing ambiguities and deficiencies, and improving effectiveness.

The Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance which came into operation on January 1, 1981, provides for compensation for people suffering from silicosis and asbestosis. Compensation is paid from the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund financed by a levy imposed on the construction and quarry industries and administered by the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board.