Highlights

The Labour Department will hold a briefing on the employment of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) on 28 June 2023 (Wednesday) at 2:45 pm at the Lecture Theatre of the Hong Kong Central Library. The employment rights and obligations of employers of FDHs will be introduced. The representative from the Equal Opportunities Commission is also invited to share the best practices on how to create an inclusive workplace for FDHs. The briefing will be conducted in Cantonese and admission is free. Employers of FDHs are welcome to attend.

The Labour Department will hold the Youth Recruitment Day@YETP at Southorn Stadium, Wanchai on 1 June offering over 2 000 on-the-job training vacancies. Counters will be staged to provide information on training courses, workplace attachment, on-the-job training of the LD and other special employment projects. A series of career talks will also be conducted. Hong Kong boxer Rex Tso Sing-yu and the pop singer Kaho Hung will join the event and share their career stories. Young school leavers aged 15 to 24 with educational attainment at sub-degree level or below are welcome.

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a shipyard in Tsing Yi this morning (May 17), in which a male worker, while working on a metal access tower, fell from height to the ground. He was certified dead later in the hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in To Kwa Wan this morning (May 16), in which a male worker while assisting in repositioning a power-operated elevating work platform in a tunnel under construction was knocked down by a fork-lift truck. He was certified dead later in the hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

The Labour Department will organise the “Job Fair for Residential Care Home Service Industry” at Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai on 8 & 9 June 2023, from 11:00 to 17:30 (last admission at 17:00). Over 30 employers will conduct on-the-spot recruitment, offering more than 1 600 vacancies from the residential care home service industry. Enquiry: 2153 3985.

The Labour Department extends the “Thankful Week for Families with Foreign Domestic Helpers (FDHs)” till 11 June. Participating FDHs and their employers may get Ocean Park tickets for free to share happy and enjoyable moments together.

The results of Site Safety Competition (Chinese version only)….

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the award presentation ceremony of Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme 2021/2022 was held in a virtual mode. A consolidated video with safety messages delivered by officiating guests and photos of the gold prize winners was produced. The video has been uploaded to the themed page of “Construction Industry Safety”. Welcome to browse.

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a container terminal in Kwai Chung yesterday night (May 3), in which a male worker while conducting road repairing works was hit by a rubber tyred gantry crane. He was certified dead on the spot. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

The Labour Department has launched a special programme – “Career Let’s Go” from May to August to help this year’s secondary school leavers plan for their career through a series of diversified pre-employment training and employment services.

The Labour Department has issued the “Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work” (“GN”). The GN aims to help employers conduct heat stress risk assessments and strengthen the protection of employees’ occupational health. Employers and employees should establish reasonable and mutually acceptable solutions for working arrangements under hot weather based on the principles of risk-based and joint consultation. The GN will provide a template and examples of risk assessment forms for employers and employees as reference, introduce general preventive measures to reduce employees’ heat stress at work, and recommend work/rest schedules in times of the Heat Stress at Work Warning to prevent heat stroke of employees at work.

With effect from 1 May 2023, the Statutory Minimum Wage rate is raised to $40 per hour. The monthly monetary cap on the requirement of employers recording the total number of hours worked by employees is also uprated to $16,300.

The maximum penalties for occupational safety and health offences have been raised.

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a commercial building in Kwun Tong yesterday afternoon (April 25), in which a male worker fell to the bottom of a lift shaft through its emergency doorway while conducting cleaning work in an air-handling unit room on the 30/F of the building. The worker was certified dead on the spot. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to the victim's family.

The Labour Department today (April 14) issued a tender notice on the Provision of Employment Support and Employer Engagement Services for the Racial Diversity Employment Programme (RDEP) for Ethnic Minority Job Seekers.

The answers and list of awardees of the Catering Industry Safety Quiz Competition of the Catering Industry Safety Promotional Campaign (2022/2023) (Chinese version only)

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Sau Mau Ping (Construction of Public Housing Development at Anderson Road Quarry Site RS-1) this morning (March 21), in which a male worker, while conducting debris clearance work on 15/F of a building under construction, fell onto 1/F. He was certified dead later in the hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

The new levels of compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, the Pneumoconiosis and Mesothelioma (Compensation) Ordinance and the Occupational Deafness (Compensation) Ordinance, have come into effect on 13 April 2023…

The Government today (March 10) reminded foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) and their employers that the flexibility arrangements to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic will be discontinued on May 1. Employers and FDHs should discuss matters relating to employment, contract renewals or the return to FDHs' places of origin as soon as possible to avoid breaching the relevant requirements.

The Government has launched the regularised Greater Bay Area (GBA) Youth Employment Scheme. Enterprises with businesses in both Hong Kong and the GBA Mainland cities and young people awarded bachelor’s degrees or above from 2021 to 2023 are eligible to join the scheme. Participating enterprises shall employ eligible graduates in accordance with Hong Kong laws, offer them a monthly salary of not less than HK$18,000 and station them in the GBA Mainland cities to work and receive on-the-job training. Allowance will be granted to eligible enterprises. For details, please visit the scheme website (www.jobs.gov.hk/gbayes) or call the hotlines 2969 0460/2969 0446.

The Catering Industry Safety Inspiration Programme (2021/2022) – Catering Industry Safety Slogan Competition has successfully completed. Welcome to watch sharing videos of prize winners.

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened on a construction site in Chai Wan this morning (February 14), in which a male worker, while erecting a hoisting frame at a landing of escalators, fell from height onto the ground. He was certified dead later in the hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

The answers and list of awardees of the Safety Quiz Competition of the Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme 2022/2023 (Chinese version only)….

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened in Wong Tai Sin today (January 22), in which a male worker was found lying on the ground behind a tail lift truck and was certified dead later in the hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the person and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a slaughterhouse in Sheung Shui today (January 20), in which a male worker was wounded by a knife accidentally during the slaughtering process and was certified dead later in the hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the person and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened in a food factory in Tsuen Wan this morning (January 16), in which a woman, while operating a confectionery mixing machine, fell into its mixing drum and was trapped by its revolving mixer arm. She was certified dead later in the hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the person and expresses its deepest sympathy to her family.

To showcase the improvements of trainees after joining YETP as well as to commend the caring efforts of service providers and employers, the Labour Department organises “YETP Most Improved Trainees Awards” every year. Awardees of this year’s Most Improved Trainees Awards and Merit Awards have been selected. Let’s recall the precious moments at the award ceremony!

The Labour Department has published the “Guidance Notes on Safety and Health for Prevention of Gas Poisoning in Drainage Works” (“GN”). The GN provides a practical guidance for proprietors, contractors, employers and relevant workers to avoid workers from poisoning due to inhalation of hazardous gases when performing drainage works in confined spaces, and to enhance the OSH awareness of relevant stakeholders. For details, please refer to the GN in “Section B: General Guides on Occupational Health and Hygiene”.

The Government announced on 30 September 2022 that the Minimum Allowable Wage for foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong will be increased from $4,630 to $4,730 per month. The food allowance will be increased from not less than $1,173 to not less than $1,196 per month.

The Labour Department has launched a three-year “Pilot Rehabilitation Programme for Employees Injured at Work” targeting at injured construction employees on 23 September 2022.

The Labour Department has published the “Code of Practice on Mechanical Handling Safety in Container Yards” (“CoP”). The CoP provides a practical guidance to proprietors of industrial undertakings of container handling for compliance with relevant legislation so as to protect the work safety of workers in container yards. This edition has been amended mainly to include the requirements for installing reversing video devices to front loaders and reach stackers. For details, please refer to the Guide in “Part B: Code of Practices”.

The Recruitment Centre for the Catering Industry and the Recruitment Centre for the Retail Industry of the Labour Department will be relocated to 2/F, Treasury Building, 3 Tonkin Street West, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon on 3 September 2022 (Saturday). The new office will commence operation from 5 September 2022 (Monday)

With the passage of a resolution of the Legislative Council under the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Ordinance on 16 June 2022, the maximum amounts of a number of ex gratia payment items under the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund were increased. The adjusted maximum amounts came into effect on 17 June 2022 upon gazettal of the resolution and apply in respect of wages, wages in lieu of notice, severance payment, pay for untaken annual leave and pay for untaken statutory holidays the liability of payment for which arose on or after this date.

The Business Registration Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Order 2022 (Order) was gazetted on 10 June 2022 and introduced into the Legislative Council on 15 June 2022. The Order seeks to reduce the rate of the business registration levy, which finances the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund (the Fund), from $250 per annum to $150 per annum with effect from 17 June 2022.

The results of the Catering Industry Safety Slogan Competition (Chinese version only) …

In order to enhance the safety awareness of employees engaged in the catering industry, the Labour Department has produced two new animations under the main theme of “Catering Safety Tips” including “Safe Use of Machinery” and “Manual Handling Operations”. Let’s take a look at the animations!

The Labour Department has published the “Guide on Construction and Work Safety of Truss-out Bamboo Scaffolds” (Traditional Chinese webpage version only at this stage) (“Guide”). The Guide consolidates the basic construction requirements of truss-out scaffolds and safety principles for carrying out relevant scaffolding work. Besides, the Guide also provides further safety requirements for erecting special truss-out scaffolds when common truss-out scaffolds cannot be used under special circumstances. The purpose of the Guide is to enhance the construction and work safety of truss-out bamboo scaffolds. For details, please refer to the Guide in “Part D: Other Guidebooks”.

The Labour Department has published a new edition (4th edition) of the “Guidance Notes on Continuing Professional Development Programmes under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety Officers and Safety Supervisors) Regulations” ("Guidance Notes"). The purpose of these Guidance Notes is to provide guidance for RSOs to pursue CPD Programmes for the purpose of renewing or revalidating their registration as safety officers. This edition has been amended to include adding professional ethics and integrity of safety officers as a compulsory CPD Programme; accepting training on subjects in other learning areas (“OLA”) as CPD Programmes; and adjusting the maximum acceptable CPD hours of each category of CPD Programmes to tie in with the above amendments. The new edition of the Guidance Notes will be effective on 1.1.2023. For details, please refer to the Guidance Notes in “Part C : Guidance Notes”.

From 2022, the Birthday of the Buddha will be a newly added statutory holiday under the Employment Ordinance. Other relevant provisions in relation to the statutory holidays under the Employment Ordinance remain unchanged, including the arrangement of holiday, eligibility for holiday pay and pay rate, and restriction on pay in lieu of holiday.

Sharing of the winning entries of the Construction Industry Safety Short Film Competition of the Construction Industry Safety Promotional Campaign 2020/2021. (Chinese version only)

The Employees’ Compensation (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 has come into effect since 2 July 2021. The coverage of the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance (Cap. 282) is extended to the situation where an employee sustains an injury or dies as a result of an accident when commuting to or from work during the period of “extreme conditions” arising from a super typhoon or other natural disaster of a substantial scale……

The Reimbursement of Maternity Leave Pay (RMLP) Scheme is open for applications from 1 April.

The statutory maternity leave under the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) has been extended from 10 weeks to 14 weeks since 11 December 2020. Through the RMLP Scheme, employers may apply for reimbursement of the 11th to 14th weeks’ statutory maternity leave pay paid, subject to a cap of $80,000 per employee.

The Labour Department has produced videos of gold prize winning catering establishments for sharing of their safety management experience and safe work practices. Let’s take a look at the videos.

In order to enhance the safety awareness of employees engaged in the catering industry, the Labour Department has produced three animations under the main theme of “Catering Safety Tips” including “Burn Prevention”, “Cut Prevention” and “Slip Prevention”. Let’s take a look at the animations!

Labour Department has launched a dedicated webpage to provide relevant information about the exemption arrangements for student interns and work experience students under the Statutory Minimum Wage regime. Members of the public can browse and obtain the relevant information at one stop.

In order to enhance enterprises’ knowledge of family-friendly employment policy and further their understanding in the implementation and advantages of relevant measures, the Labour Department invited three Signatories of the Good Employer Charter 2020 to share with us their successful cases in promoting family friendly employment culture and produced the “Family-friendly Good Employer Sharing Video of Good Employer Charter 2020”. Dr LAW Chi-kwong, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, also delivered a speech in the video. To watch the video, please visit the thematic website of the Good Employer Charter 2020.

The Labour Department today (November 1) launched the Racial Diversity Employment Programme to provide one-stop employment support services for ethnic minority job seekers in a case management approach.

The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 (Amendment Ordinance) seeks to increase the maternity leave (ML) under the Employment Ordinance (EO) (Cap. 57) by four weeks. The Amendment Ordinance also covers two technical amendments which include updating the definition of "miscarriage" under EO; and accepting a certificate of attendance issued by medical professionals as documentary proof for entitling an eligible employee to sickness allowance for any day on which the employee has attended a medical examination in relation to her pregnancy.

The Labour Department (LD) today (September 1) launched new measures to enhance its employment programmes with the aim of strengthening employment support for elderly and middle-aged people, young people and persons with disabilities.

Effective from 1 September 2020, the maximum amount of allowance for employing a person with disabilities under the Work Orientation and Placement Scheme will be increased to $60,000......

To enhance the awareness of employers and employees on reducing the health risks of standing at work, the Labour Department has produced a brand new TV announcement.

The Labour Department from now on releases information related to the Employment Ordinance and good human resource management through the GovHK Notifications mobile application (“the App”). Users of the App who are interested in receiving related messages can select “Workplace Consultation Related Information” under “Category” on the menu of the App. Corresponding notifications will be received by such users whenever the Labour Department delivers messages through the App.

Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 has come into effect. The Commissioner for Labour, pursuant to the ordinance, promulgated the Code of Practice for Employment Agencies to reflect the new legislative requirement, for compliance by Employment Agencies with a view to promoting professionalism and quality service in the industry.

The GN aims to provide practical guidance to proprietors, contractors and workers engaged in hand-dug tunnel construction work, and enhance the occupational safety and health (“OSH”) awareness of the relevant stakeholders. Workers participating in hand-dug tunnel construction work or underground utility laying works and other personnel involved in the work should also read the contents of the GN thoroughly to avoid the occurrence of accidents.

The Labour Department has launched the Employment Agencies Portal providing information related to regulation of employment agencies (EAs). Users can also check if an EA has a valid licence by the built-in search function.

To enhance public awareness of the working abilities of people with disabilities, the Selective Placement Division has produced a brand new series of videos ...