Mandatory quarantine constitutes ‘justified leave’: DSAL

Workers living in red or yellow zones who are in mandatory quarantine should be considered as being on justified leave, Chan Chon U, vice director of the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL), said.
Since the city has recorded four new Covid-19 cases, certain areas on the Peninsula have been identified as red zones or yellow zones and have been cordoned off.
The four patients were circulating freely in the community before being diagnosed with the disease.
Residents living in the red zone are not allowed to leave their homes until August 17. Businesses within the zone must also suspend operation until then.
Residents living in the yellow zone, meanwhile, will need to conduct health self-management until August 17.
According to an Executive Order, they are not allowed to take public transport, and they may be prohibited from entering certain indoor venues, such as commercial buildings.
The cordon will hinder and even obstruct residents needing to work. The DSAL stressed that quarantine conditions are government policy, meaning that it should not be considered within the control of either the employers or the employees.
In his statement, Chan has urged employers to consider not deducting the pay covering the period their employees are in quarantine, or negotiating with the employees to take that period as annual leaves. Employers should also make special arrangements to the work of the affected workers.
Chan added that employers should not pressure employees with yellow health codes to take time off so that their salaries can be deducted. On the other hand, employees should not take time off on the grounds of having yellow health codes.
Any exemption from work should be mutually agreed upon through negotiation, the DSAL vice director hinted. AL