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Raising
the Levels of Compensation under
the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance,
the Pneumoconiosis and Mesothelioma (Compensation) Ordinance and
the
Occupational Deafness (Compensation) Ordinance - The
Employees' Compensation Ordinance (ECO) provides for the payment of compensation
to employees for occupational diseases or injuries caused by accidents arising
out of and in the course of employment, or family members of the deceased employees
for deaths so caused.
- The Pneumoconiosis and Mesothelioma (Compensation)
Ordinance (PMCO) provides for the payment of compensation to persons or their
family members in respect of incapacity or death resulting from pneumoconiosis
and/or mesothelioma.
- The Occupational Deafness (Compensation) Ordinance
(ODCO) provides compensation to persons who suffer from noise-induced deafness
due to employment in specified noisy occupations.
- The Legislative Council
passed three resolutions on 17 July 2012 to increase the amounts of a total of
15 compensation items under ECO, PMCO and ODCO. The revised levels of compensation
have taken effect from 21 July 2012.
ECO
- The amounts of eight compensation items under ECO have been raised.
The new levels of compensation are applicable to work accidents which happen on
or after 21 July 2012. Details of the amendments are as follows:
| Item
under ECO | Original Level
($) | Revised Level ($) |
1. | Ceiling
of monthly earnings for calculating compensation for death and permanent total
incapacity | 21,500 | 23,580 |
2. | Minimum
compensation for death | 310,000 | 340,040 |
3. | Minimum
compensation for permanent total incapacity | 352,000 | 386,110 |
4. | Compensation
for employees requiring attention | 422,000 | 462,890 |
5. | Minimum
amount of surcharge on late payment of compensation - initial surcharge
- further surcharge
|
500
1,000
|
550
1,100
| 6. | Maximum
amount of funeral expenses | 35,000 | 70,000 |
7. | Cost
for supplying and fitting of a prosthesis or surgical appliance | 33,000 | 33,460 |
8. | Cost
of repair and renewal of a prosthesis or surgical appliance | 100,000 | 101,390 |
PMCO
- The amounts of five compensation items under PMCO have been raised.
The new levels of compensation will be used to calculate the compensation payable
to patients of pneumoconiosis or mesothelioma on or after 21 July 2012.
For compensation items relating to death, the revised levels would be applicable
to cases with the date of death occur on or after 21 July 2012. Details
of the amendments are as follows:
| Item
under PMCO | Original Level
($) | Revised Level ($) |
1. | Compensation
for pain, suffering and loss of amenities | 3,180 | 3,220 |
2. | Compensation
for bereavement | 100,000 | 101,390 |
3. | Minimum
compensation for death | 100,000 | 101,390 |
4. | Maximum
amount of funeral expenses | 35,000 | 70,000 |
5. | Compensation
for care and attention | 4,160 | 4,520 |
ODCO - The amounts of two compensation
items under ODCO have been raised. The new levels of compensation are applicable
to cases with the date of the determination of the compensation amount on or after
21 July 2012. Details of the amendments are as follows:
| Item
under ODCO | Original Level
($) | Revised Level ($) |
1. | Maximum
sum for calculating the amount of compensation for permanent incapacity
- Age under 40
(multiplying factor: 96)
- Age 40 to under 56
(multiplying factor: 72) - Age 56 and above
(multiplying factor: 48) |
2,016,000
1,512,000 1,008,000 |
2,263,680
(23,580 x 96)
1,697,760
(23,580 x 72)
1,131,840
(23,580 x 48)
| 2. | Minimum
sum for calculating the amount of compensation for permanent incapacity | 341,000 | 386,110 |
Enquiries - Enquiry Hotline: 2717 1771
(the hotline is handled by “1823”)
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