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In response to media enquiries about the announcement by the provisional liquidator of Asia Television Limited (ATV) regarding the dismissal of ATV employees and cessation of broadcasting, a spokesman for the Labour Department (LD) today (March 3) gave the following reply:
The government was informed of the dismissal of all ATV employees by the announcement of the provisional liquidator of ATV. We are highly concerned about the incident and are committed to continuing our efforts in assisting the affected employees.
As there is a winding up petition in progress against ATV, and the Labour Tribunal has indicated that the related claims will not be processed due to the appointment of a provisional liquidator by the court, the LD has already commenced processing of the applications by departed ATV employees for ex-gratia payment of the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund (PWIF). We will continue to render full assistance to the employees in need.
The LD has been maintaining contact with the provisional liquidator and advising them to provide the employment records, wage payment records and Mandatory Provident Fund records of the employees as soon as possible, as well as to ascertain the detail items and amount owed to each employee, with a view to facilitating their application for ex-gratia payment from PWIF. We have informed the provisional liquidator and reminded the employees about the information required. We will also continue to maintain close contact with both the provisional liquidator and the employee representatives.
As regards employment services, the LD has assigned a dedicated employment services hotline (Tel: 2654 1429) to answer ATV employees' enquiries. Special counters have also been set up at all the 13 Job Centres of the LD to provide priority registration and employment services for ATV employees. We have also contacted major broadcasting organisations to canvass suitable vacancies. Information on these vacancies has been uploaded to the LD's Interactive Employment Service website (www.jobs.gov.hk). ATV employees may browse the information online or via mobile application at any time.
Besides, the LD will organise a job fair at its Tsuen Wan Job Centre on March 22 (Tuesday). The job fair will provide broadcasting-related vacancies where ATV employees or other interested job-seekers are welcomed to apply. The LD will continue to liaise proactively with major broadcasting organisations and invite them to participate in the job fair.
As regards employment rights and benefits, the LD is dedicated to providing ATV employees in need with appropriate assistance. We will continue to liaise with ATV employee representatives and conduct briefings again on their employment rights, with a view to providing necessary assistance in their claims for wages and dismissal compensation, and introducing the employment services of the LD. The LD has also set up a dedicated rights and benefit hotline (2929 4065) for ATV employees. Employees who have questions on their statutory rights and benefits may call the hotline.
Ends/Thursday, March 3, 2016
Issued at HKT 23:40
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