Raising the Levels of Compensation underthe 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
compensation to persons who suffer from noise-induced deafness by reason of
employment in the specified noisy occupations.
-
The Legislative Council passed three resolutions on 4 February 2015 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 5 March
2015.
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 5 March
2015. Details of the amendments are as follows:
Item under ECO |
Level before revision ($) |
Revised Level ($) |
1. |
Ceiling of monthly earnings for calculating compensation for death and
permanent total incapacity
|
23,580 |
26,070
|
2. |
Minimum compensation for death |
340,040 |
375,950
|
3. |
Minimum compensation for permanent total incapacity |
386,110 |
426,880
|
4. |
Compensation for employees requiring attention |
462,890 |
511,770
|
5. |
Minimum amount of surcharge on late payment of compensation |
|
|
|
initial surcharge
|
550 |
610
|
|
further surcharge
|
1,100 |
1,220
|
6. |
Maximum amount of funeral expenses |
70,000 |
76,220
|
7. |
Cost of supplying and fitting a prosthesis or surgical appliance |
33,460 |
36,430
|
8. |
Cost of the repair and renewal of a prosthesis or surgical appliance
|
101,390 |
110,390
|
9 |
Minimum monthly earnings for calculating employees’ compensation |
3,490 |
3,690
|
-
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 or mesothelioma on or after 5 March 2015. For
compensation items relating to death, the revised levels are applicable to
cases with the date of death occurring on or after 5 March 2015. Details of
the amendments are as follows:
Item under PMCO |
Level before revision($) |
Revised Level ($) |
1. |
Compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenities |
3,220 |
4,650
|
2. |
Compensation for bereavement |
101,390 |
110,390
|
3. |
Minimum compensation for death |
101,390 |
110,390
|
4. |
Maximum amount of funeral expenses |
70,000 |
76,220
|
5. |
Compensation for care and attention |
4,520 |
4,930
|
-
Please click here to view
the amendment resolution relating to PMCO published in the Government
Gazette.
ODCO
-
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 5 March 2015. Details of the
amendments are as follows:
Item under ODCO |
Level before revision($) |
Revised Level ($) |
1. |
Maximum sum for calculating the amount of compensation for permanent
incapacity
|
|
|
|
Age under 40
|
2,263,680 |
2,502,720
|
|
Age 40 to under 56
|
1,697,760 |
1,877,040
|
|
Age 56 or above
|
1,131,840 |
1,251,360
|
2. |
Minimum sum for calculating the amount of compensation for permanent
incapacity
|
386,110 |
426,880
|
3. |
Financing limit for first-time applications for HADs |
12,000 |
15,000
|
4. |
Aggregate financing limit for HADs |
36,000 |
52,000
|
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”)