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 statutory compensation to injured employees and family members of deceased employees for prescribed occupational diseases, injuries or deaths caused by accidents arising out of and in the course of employment.
- The Pneumoconiosis and Mesothelioma (Compensation) Ordinance (PMCO) provides for the payment of compensation to persons and their family members in respect of incapacity or deaths resulting from pneumoconiosis and/or mesothelioma.
- The Occupational Deafness (Compensation) Ordinance (ODCO) provides for the payment of compensation to persons who suffer from noise-induced deafness by reason of employment in the noisy occupations specified under the Ordinance.
- The Legislative Council passed three resolutions on 1 March 2017 to increase the amounts of a total of 18 compensation items under ECO, PMCO and ODCO. The revised levels of compensation have taken effect from 1 April 2017.
ECO
- The amounts of nine compensation items under ECO have been raised. The new levels of compensation are applicable to work injuries caused by accidents happening or prescribed occupational diseases contracted on or after 1 April 2017. Details of the amendments are as follows:
| Item under ECO | Existing Level ($) | New Level ($) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
Ceiling of the monthly earnings (for calculating compensation for death and permanent total incapacity) |
26,070 | 28,360 |
| 2. | Minimum amount of compensation for death | 375,950 | 408,960 |
| 3. | Minimum amount of compensation for permanent total incapacity | 426,880 | 464,360 |
| 4. | Compensation for employees requiring attention by another person | 511,770 | 556,700 |
| 5. | Minimum amount of surcharge on late payment of compensation | ||
| initial surcharge | 610 | 660 | |
| further surcharge | 1,220 | 1,330 | |
| 6. | Maximum amount of funeral expenses | 76,220 | 83,700 |
| 7. | Maximum amount of the cost of supplying and fitting a prosthesis or surgical appliance | 36,430 | 40,010 |
| 8. | Maximum amount of the cost of the repair and renewal of a prosthesis or surgical appliance | 110,390 | 121,230 |
| 9 |
Minimum monthly earnings (for calculating periodical payments during work injury sick leave) |
3,690 | 4,090 |
- Please click here to view the amendment resolution relating to ECO published in the Government Gazette.
PMCO
- The amounts of five compensation items under PMCO have been raised. The new levels of compensation are used to calculate the compensation payable to patients of pneumoconiosis and/or mesothelioma on or after 1 April 2017. For compensation items relating to death, the revised levels are applicable to cases with the date of death occurring on or after 1 April 2017. Details of the amendments are as follows:
| Item under PMCO | Existing Level ($) | New Level ($) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
Compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenities (A monthly payment payable to all patients until they pass away) |
4,650 | 5,110 |
| 2. | Compensation for bereavement | 110,390 | 121,230 |
| 3. |
Minimum compensation for death (pegged to the amount of compensation for bereavement) |
110,390 | 121,230 |
| 4. | Maximum amount of funeral expenses | 76,220 | 83,700 |
| 5. |
Compensation for care and attention (A monthly payment payable to patients requiring the care and attention of another person) |
4,930 | 5,210 |
- Please click here to view the amendment resolution relating to PMCO published in the Government Gazette.
- The amounts of four 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 and the financing amount for hearing assistive devices (HADs) on or after 1 April 2017. Details of the amendments are as follows:
| Item under ODCO | Existing Level ($) | New Level ($) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Maximum sum for calculating the amount of compensation for permanent incapacity | ||
|
Age under 40 (multiplying factor: 96) |
2,502,720 | 2,722,560 | |
|
Age 40 to under 56 (multiplying factor: 72) |
1,877,040 | 2,041,920 | |
|
Age 56 and above (multiplying factor: 48) |
1,251,360 | 1,361,280 | |
| 2. | Minimum sum for calculating the amount of compensation for permanent incapacity | 426,880 | 464,360 |
| 3. | Financing limit for first-time HAD applications | 15,000 | 16,470 |
| 4. | Aggregate financing limit for HADs | 52,000 | 57,110 |
Please click here to view the amendment resolution relating to ODCO published in the Government Gazette.
Enquiries
Enquiry Hotline: 2717 1771 (the hotline is handled by “the 1823 Call Centre”)