LONG service payments and severance payments are two employee benefits which are laid down by the Government, provided the employee meets the conditions spelt out in the Employment Ordinance.
All employees with five or more years service are eligible for long service payments if they resign because of ill health or lose there jobs for reasons other than summary dismissal or redundancy.
They are also eligible if they have served for 10 years and voluntarily leave their employee on, or after, the age of 65.
Next of kin are eligible for payments if an employee with five or more years' service dies.
The amount paid out depends on the person's salary and age.
An employee is not guaranteed the full amount until he or she reaches the age of 45.
Below that, they only receive a percentage of the sum due, which is based on two thirds of the last month's wages, up to a limit of $10,000, or the past 12 months' wages.
