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The Occupational Deafness (Compensation) (Amendment) Ordinance 2010, which was passed by the Legislative Council on February 3, is gazetted today (February 12).
The Ordinance seeks to improve the compensation for persons with occupational deafness under the Occupational Deafness (Compensation) Ordinance and to adjust the rate and proportions of distribution of the Employees' Compensation Insurance (ECI) Levy charged under the Employees' Compensation Insurance Levies Ordinance.
With the commencement of the Ordinance, the following improvement measures will be introduced to the Occupational Deafness Compensation Scheme to benefit persons with occupational deafness:
(a) Extend the coverage of compensation to employees who have developed noise induced deafness in only one ear because of their employment;
(b) Increase the maximum reimbursable amount for the expenses incurred in purchasing, repairing and replacing hearing assistive devices from $18,000 to $36,000, and to increase the first time reimbursable amount for such devices from $9,000 to $12,000; and
(c) Provide further compensation for claimants whose hearing losses deteriorate as a result of their continued employment in noisy occupations for three years after their previous applications.
Currently, the Employees' Compensation Insurance Levies Management Board charges on the premium of each ECI policy taken out by employers an ECI Levy at the rate of 6.3% for distribution to three statutory bodies, namely, the Occupational Deafness Compensation Board, the Employees Compensation Assistance Fund Board and the Occupational Safety and Health Council. With the commencement of the Ordinance, the proportion of distribution to the three statutory bodies will be adjusted and the ECI Levy rate will be revised to 5.8%. The employers will benefit by a reduction of 0.5 percentage points in the ECI levy when they take out ECI policies.
The Ordinance will come into operation on a day to be appointed by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare by notice published in the Gazette.
Ends/Friday, February 12, 2010
Issued at HKT 12:16
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