*****************************************************
The Labour Department (LD) announced today (April 2) that following the Chief Executive in Council's decision of not renewing the domestic free television programme service licence of Asia Television Limited (ATV), LD has been taking proactive follow up actions to provide assistance to affected employees as appropriate.
A spokesman for LD said, "LD fully understands that ATV employees may have worries over the current situation. We have been actively contacting both the management and the employee representatives of ATV. If necessary, LD will conduct briefings as soon as practicable to explain to affected employees their employment rights and benefits, and to provide employment services for those in need."
The spokesman said LD has already set up two hotlines for ATV employees to make enquiries during office hours. The hotline numbers are 2929 4065 (for employees' rights and benefits) and 2654 1429 (for employment services). Employees can also approach the Labour Relations Division in Sha Tin (Address: Rooms 304-313, 3/F, Sha Tin Government Offices, 1 Sheung Wo Che Road, Sha Tin, New Territories) for enquiry about their employment rights and benefits.
In addition, special counters have been set up at the nearby Tai Po and Sha Tin Job Centres to provide priority employment services to ATV employees in need. ATV employees may also make use of the LD's mobile app or computer to search for suitable vacancies from LD's huge job database through the Interactive Employment Service website any time. The addresses of the two Job Centres are as follows:
Tai Po Job Centre
3/F, Tai Po Government Offices, 1 Ting Kok Road, Tai Po, New Territories
Sha Tin Job Centre
2/F, Sha Tin Government Offices, 1 Sheung Wo Che Road, Sha Tin, New Territories.
LD will liaise closely with the interdepartmental task force set up by the Communications and Technology Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau on any necessary measures to be taken, with a view to providing information and services to the employees.
Ends/Thursday, April 2, 2015
Issued at HKT 13:33
NNNN
