ENG-2013 — Page 154

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Employment

either the ordinance or the ex gratia scheme. Family members of 76 pneumoconiosis and/or mesothelioma sufferers who died from the diseases were also granted compensation in the

year.

The Occupational Deafness Compensation Board administers the Occupational Deafness Compensation Scheme which provides compensation for persons employed in specified noisy occupations who suffer hearing loss as a result of prolonged exposure to excessive noise at work, and the reimbursement of expenses incurred on hearing assistive devices. In 2013, the board approved 117 compensation applications and paid out $8.49 million in compensation. It also approved 413 applications to finance hearing assistive devices, costing $1.31 million, and provided 359 rehabilitation programmes for people with impaired hearing caused by their jobs.

Retirement Protection

All employees, except those who are not required by law to join a local retirement scheme, are provided with some form of retirement protection under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance or other retirement schemes, such as those regulated under the Occupational Retirement Schemes Ordinance and other statutory pension plans.

Statutory Minimum Wage

The overall employment market has remained stable since the introduction of the SMW in May 2011. Employment earnings of low-income employees have continued to increase. The new SMW rate of $30 came into effect on 1 May 2013. The Labour Department organised various publicity activities to promote the new SMW rate and the SMW legislation. Labour inspectors visited businesses throughout Hong Kong to make sure employers were complying with the law.

The main function of the Minimum Wage Commission, an independent statutory body established under the Minimum Wage Ordinance, is to recommend the SMW rate to the Chief Executive in Council when required by the Chief Executive to do so. The commission comprises a Chairperson and 12 members from the labour sector, business community, academia and the government. The commission's new two-year term started in March.

Employment Agencies

The Labour Department enforces Part XII of the Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations which empower it to issue licences to employment agencies, monitor and investigate complaints, and prosecute. The department issued 2,718 employment agency licences, revoked three and refused to renew one in 2013.

Standard Working Hours

In April, the government set up the Standard Working Hours Committee, comprising members drawn from the labour and business sectors, academia, the community and government. The committee, appointed for a term of three years, is tasked to follow up on the government's completed policy study on standard working hours, promoting an informed, in-depth and objective discussion on the subject in the community, so as to jointly explore and identify options that suit Hong Kong's needs.

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