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The Labour Department will continue to help workers affected by the Housing Authority's decision to take back control of three construction sites in Shek Pai Wan and Fanling today (February 17).
A temporary service centre has been set up in the vicinity of the Shek Pai Wan and Fanling construction sites today to provide one-stop services for workers to enquire about their statutory rights and benefits and to provide employment service.
Special counters have also been set up at all the department's Labour Relations offices and Job Centres to provide immediate services to the affected workers.
In addition, the department has set up hotlines for the affected workers to enquire about their statutory rights and benefits under the Employment Ordinance (2922 6113) and about employment service (2552 0131).
As of yesterday (February 16), the Job Centres had about 280 construction worker vacancies and some 700 general worker vacancies in other trades. These vacancies, which are suitable to construction workers affected by the re-entry action, are open for application.
The Labour Department has in the past months been assisting the affected workers to claim wages in arrears from their direct employers and the principal contractor. From October 2005 till now, a total of 577 workers have filed their claims to the Labour Relations Division of the department.
A total of 330 workers have already claimed back about $4.5 million in wage arrears with the assistance of the department through conciliation meetings and other channels.
The department will help the workers to apply for ex-gratia payments from the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund, if necessary.
Ends/Friday, February 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 10:50
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