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Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 gazetted and takes effect today
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     ​The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 (Amendment Ordinance) takes effect upon gazettal today (June 17). 
 
     The Amendment Ordinance aims at strengthening the protection of the employment rights and benefits of employees when they are absent from work due to their compliance with specific anti-epidemic requirements and encouraging employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. It stipulates that employees' absence from work due to their compliance with an isolation order, a quarantine order or a requirement under restriction-testing declaration which imposes a restriction on movement will be deemed as sickness day(s). Employees who have fulfilled the relevant criteria under the Employment Ordinance will be entitled to sickness allowance. Besides, the dismissal of an employee by reason of his/her absence due to compliance with the above-mentioned anti-epidemic requirements will be considered as unreasonable dismissal.
 
     In addition, the Amendment Ordinance also stipulates clearly the conditions to be met if an employer makes a COVID-19 vaccination request to his/her employee. If an employee is dismissed due to non-compliance with such request, the dismissal will not be considered as unreasonable dismissal. 
 
     A spokesman for the Labour Department said, "The legislative amendments seek to reflect the policy intent so as to clarify the rights and obligations between employers and employees under the epidemic, and to strike an appropriate balance between protecting public health and preserving employees' rights and benefits.  For details, please visit the LD's homepage (www.labour.gov.hk) or call LD's 24-hour hotline at 2717 1771 (the hotline is provided by 1823) for enquiry."
 
Ends/Friday, June 17, 2022
Issued at HKT 10:30
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