ENG-2010 — Page 177

Employment | 131

have contracted pneumoconiosis before the ordinance went into effect in 1981 may apply for ex gratia benefits from the Government under the Pneumoconiosis Ex Gratia Scheme.

At year's end, 1790 pneumoconiosis and/or mesothelioma sufferers were receiving payments under either the ordinance or the ex gratia scheme. Family members of 130 pneumoconiosis and/or mesothelioma sufferers who had died as a result of the diseases were also granted compensation during the year.

The 'Occupational Deafness Compensation Board' administers the Occupational Deafness Compensation Scheme which compensates employees who have worked in specified noisy occupations and are suffering from noise-induced deafness. To improve the protection of the scheme, the Occupational Deafness (Compensation) (Amendment) Ordinance 2010 was passed by the Legislative Council and went into operation on April 16, 2010 to make monaural hearing loss compensable, provide further compensation for claimants whose hearing loss deteriorates as a result of their continued employment in noisy occupations and increase the maximum and first time reimbursable amounts for the expenses incurred relating to hearing assistive devices. In 2010, the board approved 591 applications and paid out $17.34 million in compensation. It also approved 541 applications for hearing aids, costing $2,230,466. In addition, the board runs rehabilitation programmes for people with impaired hearing caused by their jobs. In 2010, the board provided 455 such programmes.

Legislating for a Statutory Minimum Wage

The introduction of a statutory minimum wage is an important Government labour policy initiative to protect low-income workers. The aim is to establish a statutory minimum wage regime which sets a wage floor to forestall excessively low wages, but without unduly jeopardising Hong Kong's labour market flexibility and economic competitiveness or causing significant adverse impact on employment. opportunities for vulnerable employees. The Legislative Council passed the Minimum Wage Bill in July 2010. Upon acceptance of the recommendation of the Provisional Minimum Wage Commission to set the initial statutory minimum wage rate at $28 per hour, the Government introduced four pieces of subsidiary legislation in November 2010. With the approval of the Legislative Council, the statutory minimum wage will go into force on May 1, 2011, which is the next Labour Day. The Labour Department will launch a wide range of promotional activities to enhance public awareness of the statutory minimum wage. Targeted efforts will be made to facilitate employers and employees to understand their respective obligations and entitlements under the minimum wage legislation.

Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board

The Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board determines claims under the Employment Ordinance and in accordance with individual employment contracts. The board hears and judges employment claims involving not more than 10 claimants for sums not exceeding $8,000 per claimant. During the year, the board dealt with 2 112 claims and approved awards amounting to $4.9 million.