Employees' Compensation Ordinance, Chapter 282

The Employees' Compensation Ordinance establishes a no-fault, non-contributory employee compensation system for work injuries. Major provisions of the Ordinance are :

Application

• An employer is liable to pay compensation in respect of injuries sustained by his employees as a result of an accident arising out of and in the course of employment; or in respect of occupational diseases specified in the Ordinance suffered by the employees.
• The Ordinance in general applies to employees who are employed under a contract of service or apprenticeship. Employees who are injured while working outside Hong Kong are also covered if they are employed in Hong Kong by local employers.

Assessment of Loss of Earning Capacity

• A two-tier system - Employees' Compensation (Ordinary Assessment) Board and Employees' Compensation (Special Assessment) Board - is provided for to assess the necessary period of absence from duty and the percentage of loss of earning capacity permanently caused to the employee as a result of the work injury.

Major Compensation Items

Compensation for death

Funeral and medical attendance expenses in fatal cases

• Any person who has paid funeral and/or medical attendance expenses on an employee who died in a work-related accident is entitled to claim reimbursement from the employer of the deceased employee of such expenses not exceeding $94,690  ⁽³⁾.

For "Employees’ Compensation Ordinance Compensation for Fatal Cases", please click here (PDF)

Compensation in cases of permanent total incapacity

Compensation payable for permanent total incapacity resulting from a work injury is calculated with referenceto the age and monthly earnings of the injured employee:

Where permanent partial incapacity results from the injury, the amount of compensation is a percentage of the compensation payable for permanent total incapacity as is proportionate to the loss of earning capacity caused by the injury.

Remarks:

Periodical Payment

• An employee is entitled to receive periodical payments during the period of temporary incapacity (sick leave) up to 24 months. The payment should be calculated as follows:
  
  

  （Monthly earnings at the time of the accident - Monthly earnings after the accident）x 4/5

  
  
• If the employee's temporary incapacity lasts more than 24 months, he may apply to the Court for an extension of his entitlement for the payment. The extended period shall not be longer than 12 months.

Medical Expenses

• The daily maximum of medical expenses payable by the employer are as follows -
  

  i.	the medical expenses for each day of stay in the hospital where an employee is given medical treatment as an in-patient:	$300
  ii.	the medical expenses for each day on which an employee is given medical treatment other than as an in-patient in a hospital:	$300
  iii.	the medical expenses for each day on which an employee is given medical treatment both as an in-patient in a hospital and other than as an in-patient in a hospital:	$370

Settlement of Claims

• Depending on the nature of the case, a claim for employees' compensation can be settled in the following ways:

Compulsory Insurance

• An employer must be in possession of a valid insurance policy to cover his liabilities both under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and at common law for the work injuries for his employees.

For any information concerning the list of insurers underwriting employees' compensation insurance, please click here to access to the relevant website of the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers.

If an employer experiences difficulties in acquiring employees' compensation insurance cover, he may apply to join the Employees’ Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme. For Scheme details and the eligibility criteria, please visit the website of the Employees’ Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme Bureau.

Click here for A Concise Guide to the Employees' Compensation Ordinance (with frequently asked questions on common employees' compensation issues) (PDF)