ENG-2019 — Page 160

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Employment

sentenced to imprisonment for these offences, and another two company directors and one employer were ordered to perform community service.

Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund

The fund provides timely relief in the form of ex gratia payment covering outstanding wages, wages in lieu of notice, severance payment, pay for untaken annual leave and pay for untaken statutory holidays to employees affected by their insolvent employers. It is financed mainly by a levy on business registration certificates. In 2019, the fund made ex gratia payments totalling $83.1 million to 2,524 applicants and recorded a surplus of $417 million.

Employees' Compensation

The employees' compensation regime follows the 'no-fault' compensation principle, whereby compensation is payable regardless of whether the injury, prescribed occupational disease or death is due to the employee's fault. The Employees' Compensation Ordinance covers injury or death caused by accidents arising from and in the course of employment, or by prescribed occupational diseases. An employer must have a valid employees' compensation insurance policy to cover liabilities under the laws, including common law. Labour inspectors conduct workplace inspections to ensure employers have taken out such insurance.

The department helps injured employees and the families of deceased employees get compensation from their employers under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance. It helps. employees and employers better understand their rights and obligations under the ordinance through talks and wide publicity.

The Employees Compensation Assistance Fund provides assistance payment to injured employees or family members of deceased employees who fail to receive the entitled compensation after exhausting all legally and financially viable means of recovery. The Occupational Deafness Compensation Fund 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 financial assistance for hearing assistive devices. Both funds are financed mainly by a levy imposed on all employees' compensation insurance policies taken out by employers.

Pneumoconiosis and/or mesothelioma sufferers are eligible for compensation administered by the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board under the PMCO. The fund is financed by a levy imposed on the construction and quarrying industries. Those diagnosed to have contracted pneumoconiosis before the ordinance became effective in 1981 may apply for ex gratia payments from the government under the Pneumoconiosis Ex Gratia Scheme.

Statutory Minimum Wage

The new statutory minimum wage rate of $37.50 per hour, effective from May, has been operating smoothly. The department publicises the Minimum Wage Ordinance widely and labour inspectors visit businesses to ensure employers' compliance with the law.

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