Remarks by SLW on business suspension of chain fitness and beauty group
Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, on business suspension of chain fitness and beauty group at a media session after officiating at the kick-off ceremony of Jockey Club "Brain Health" Dementia Screening and Community Support Project this afternoon (September 15):
Reporter: An English follow-up question of the Physical Fitness incident. What kind of assistance has the Bureau provided for the affected employees up until now? Secondly, what kind of advice would you urge the affected employees to take at this stage?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: First of all, up till now we have received around 670 employees of Physical Fitness seeking help from the Labour Department. Basically they are looking for relief to their unpaid wages and severance payment. They are all eligible to apply for funding support under the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund (PWIF). There is a procedure under the Fund. Right now, colleagues in the Labour Department together with members of the labour unions are trying their very best to persuade the employer of Physical Fitness to sign a statement declaring that they are unable to pay. If this statement could be signed, it will speed up the whole process. The 600 odd employees will get the payment under PWIF in a very speedy manner. In the event that this statement is not available, there is an established procedure which has to go through the Labour Tribunal and also to file a petition to the Court, so it takes a bit more time. Yet you can rest assured that under the Fund, all the affected employees can get funding support for their unpaid wages and severance payment.
Secondly, on the newly opened brand Healthy, for ex-employees of Physical Fitness, if they are considering joining the new company, they should pay attention to the terms of the new employment, make sure they know what terms are being offered, as well as the protection and terms of the employment, make sure they know what they are signing for. Also, they have to ask the new employer about how their unpaid wages and severance payment with the ex-employer would be handled. I think this is very important and I urge them to make sure they consider all these factors before signing a new employment contract.
Thank you very much.
HAD opens temporary heat shelters
The Home Affairs Department will continue to open 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (September 18).
The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.
For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
The heat shelters are located at:
Hong Kong Island:
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Central and Western -
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
Eastern -
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
Southern -
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
Wan Chai -
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
Kowloon Districts:
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Kowloon City -
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
Kwun Tong -
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
Sham Shui Po -
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
Wong Tai Sin -
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
Yau Tsim Mong -
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
New Territories Districts:
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Islands -
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
Kwai Tsing -
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
North -
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
Sai Kung -
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
Sha Tin -
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
Tai Po -
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
Tsuen Wan -
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
Tuen Mun -
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
Yuen Long -
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
Yuen Long -
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.
