Employees may soon be able to claim medical benefits for treatment sought at traditional Chinese practitioners.

The Certification for Employee Benefits (Chinese Medicine)(Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2005, will be tabled at the Legislative Council by the Labour Department on June 15. It recognises medical treatment, examination and certification given by registered Chinese medicine practitioners.

The amendment bill, which contains several proposed amendments to the Employment Ordinance, Employees' Compensation Ordinance and Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance, was gazetted today.

Proposed amendments relate mainly to the recognition of Chinese practitioners for certifying employees' sickness days and sickness allowance entitlement. The ordinance will recognise Chinese practitioners' certification of sick leave arising from a work injury, and allow employees to claim expenses.

The Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance will also be amended to enable medical expense reimbursement for lung disease treatment given by Chinese practitioners.

There are also related amendments to the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (General) Regulation and (Exemption) Regulation for the recognition of a certificates issued by Chinese practitioners.