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In response to media enquiries on Rixon deliverymen's rights and benefits, the Labour Department has the following statement:
Labour Department is highly concerned with the rights and benefits of Rixon's deliverymen. The department is closely liaising with Rixon on the matter. Rixon has, after the mediation of Labour Department, decided to directly employ the delivery men from September 1 (those joining the company before September 1 will be considered as Rixon's employees from their hiring date). We understand that Rixon will organise a number of briefings from next week to inform deliverymen, including those who have left the company, of their statutory rights as employees of the company under the labour laws.
The Employees Compensation Division of the Labour Department has called Rixon and urged the company to immediately report cases of occupational injuries and to resolve deliverymen's employee compensation matters. The division found that Rixon had always taken out employees' insurance for the deliverymen in accordance with the Employees' Compensation Ordinance. The Labour Department will closely follow up these cases with the aim to help the injured deliverymen secure employee compensation.
The Labour Department stresses that enforcing labour laws to ensure employees' rights and benefits is the department's prime duty. The Labour Department will take out prosecution should there be evidence showing violation of the labour laws.
Ends/Friday, August 14, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:56
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