SEE begins visit to Azerbaijan
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, joined the Chinese delegationto attend the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan.
Upon his arrival in Azerbaijan on November 11 (Azerbaijan time), Mr Tse, together with the Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), Ms Salina Yan, met with the Financial Services Development Council and Friends of the Earth (HK) to learn about the outcomes of the side event jointly organised by the two organisations at the China Pavilion in the venue of the COP29 on the same day. They also discussed issues including green finance, green transformation of economies and international carbon market.
Mr Tse and Ms Yan met with the head of the Chinese delegation, Mr Zhao Yingmin, yesterday morning (November 12, Azerbaijan time) to exchange views on the progress of the COP29, the international carbon market, and the Hong KongSpecial Administrative Region Government's work in combating climate change.
Afterwards, Mr Tse held a bilateral meeting with representatives of Bangkok, a member city of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, to share the strategies and experiences of the two cities in combating climate change and to exchange views on co-operation and exchanges between the two places.
In the afternoon, Mr Tse visited the Garadagh (Area 60) Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant to learn about the strategy and progress of energy transition as well as the latest development of and experience in renewable energy in Azerbaijan.
The Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Hong Kong Observatory will hold a side event titled "Climate Action: From Climate Science to Opportunities to Develop New Energy" at the China Pavilion in today (November 13, Azerbaijan time) afternoon. Mr Tse will attend the side event and deliver an opening speech.
SEE begins visit to Azerbaijan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE begins visit to Azerbaijan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE begins visit to Azerbaijan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE begins visit to Azerbaijan Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Employers and employees should make reasonable work arrangements after tropical cyclones or rainstorms
The Labour Department (LD) today (November 14) reminded employers to make practical and reasonable work arrangements for employees after the cancellation of tropical cyclone warnings or rainstorm warnings, with due consideration to the road and traffic conditions and other factors, and make flexible arrangements for staff to resume work or work remotely (if applicable). This will help maintain good labour-management relations, and ensure the safety of employees as well as the smooth operation of organisations.
"For staff who have genuine difficulties in resuming work on time upon cancellation of a tropical cyclone or rainstorm warning, employers should be sympathetic and handle each case flexibly. For example, employers may allow employees to resume work in stages, permit employees who have difficulties in returning to workplaces to work remotely (if applicable) or allow more time for them to report for duty and resume work," an LD spokesman said.
The spokesman reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, Employees' Compensation Ordinance and Minimum Wage Ordinance.
"As natural calamities cannot be avoided, for employees who are not able to report for duty or resume duty on time due to adverse weather or 'extreme conditions', employers should neither deduct their wages, good attendance bonus or allowances, nor reduce employees' entitlement to annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days under the Employment Ordinance, or ask for additional hours of work from employees to compensate for the loss of working hours when they are unable to report for duty," the spokesman said.
Employers should note that they have an obligation to provide and maintain a safe working environment for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance. Moreover, under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, employers are liable to pay compensation for injuries or deaths incurred when employees are travelling by a direct route from their residence to their workplace, or from their workplace back to their residence after work, four hours before or after working hours on a day when Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or higher, a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or "extreme conditions" is in force.
The LD has published the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'", which provides the major principles, reference guidelines and information on relevant legislation on making work arrangements for the reference of employers and employees. The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf).
