Labour Advisory Board Report 2007-2008 - Chapter 4

4.1 Introduction

The Committee on Employees' Compensation (CEC) has been in place since August 1986 to give advice on the effectiveness of the employees' compensation system and related legislation.

4.2 Terms of Reference

The committee is established to:

• review the employees' compensation system in Hong Kong;
• advise on legislative proposals on employees' compensation and review existing legislation; and
• advise on measures to be adopted by the Labour Department to improve the administrative machinery related to employees' compensation.

4.3 Composition

Members of the CEC are appointed by the Commissioner for Labour. The composition of the committee for the term 2007-2008 is as follows:

Chairman:	Deputy Commissioner for Labour (Labour Administration)
Members:	Three employer representatives from the Labour Advisory Board Three employee representatives from the Labour Advisory Board An employer representative from outside the Labour Advisory Board An employee representative from outside the Labour Advisory Board A representative nominated by the insurance industry A representative from a concern group on employees' compensation A representative nominated by the Hospital Authority A representative nominated by the Director of Legal Aid Assistant Commissioner for Labour (Employees' Rights and Benefits) Occupational Health Consultant (1)
Secretary:	A Labour Officer of the Labour Department

The membership list of the CEC for the term 2007-2008 is at Appendix I.

4.4 Activities during the 2007-2008 Term

During the 2007-2008 term, the CEC discussed the following matters:

Review of the levels of compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance (ECO) and the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance² (PCO)

The CEC endorsed a proposal to maintain the amounts of various compensation items under the ECO and the PCO at their existing levels. The proposal was subsequently submitted to the Labour Advisory Board (LAB) for consideration.

Proposal to adjust the rate and proportions of distribution of the Employees' Compensation Insurance (ECI) Levy

The CEC supported the proposal to reduce the overall ECI Levy rate, to adjust the proportions of allocation of the ECI Levy to the Occupational Deafness Compensation Board and the Employees Compensation Assistance Fund Board, and to improve three benefit items under the Occupational Deafness Compensation Scheme. The proposal was subsequently submitted to the Occupational Deafness Compensation Board, the Employees' Compensation Insurance Levies Management Board and the LAB for consideration.

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² With effect from 18 April 2008, the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance has been re-titled as the Pneumoconiosis and Mesothelioma (Compensation) Ordinance to reflect the extension of its scope to cover mesothelioma.