CS visits occupational health facilities and recruitment centre of Labour Department (with photos)
***************************************************************

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (July 27) visited the Kwun Tong Occupational Health Clinic cum Occupational Safety and Health Centre of the Labour Department (LD), as well as the Construction Industry Recruitment Centre (CIRC) on the work of the department in promoting occupational safety and health and providing employment support.
 
     Accompanied by the Commissioner for Labour, Mr Donald Tong, Mrs Lam first visited the Kwun Tong Occupational Health Clinic cum Occupational Safety and Health Centre followed by a tour of the facilities. She was briefed on the work of the LD's Occupational Safety and Health Branch and the services provided by the centre to both employers and employees.
 
     The Occupational Safety and Health Centre provides one-stop services to employers and employees on information about occupational safety and health. The centre is equipped with Internet services and different types of interactive computer games to enhance public awareness of occupational safety and health. Talks and workshops are also organised to promote occupational safety and health to the public.
 
     The Occupational Health Clinic of the LD diagnoses and treats work-related illnesses for employees. It also provides occupational health counselling services. Thematic exhibitions and video shows are held to enhance patients' understanding of occupational health and thereby reduce their risk of contracting occupational diseases. The clinic also organises patient support groups to facilitate experience sharing and enhance mutual support among patients.
 
     During the visit, Mrs Lam commended the LD's front-line staff for their efforts and contributions to the improvement of occupational safety and health. She encouraged them to continue to discharge their duties diligently and to provide quality public services to the community.
 
     Later, Mrs Lam visited the LD's CIRC in Kowloon Bay. She was briefed about the work of the department’s Labour Administration Branch, as well as the support services provided by the centre to help local construction workers find jobs and the employers of the sector to recruit workers.
 
     The establishment of the CIRC by the LD aims to provide a one-stop job search and recruitment service platform for the construction industry. The centre provides a venue for employers, contractors and sub-contractors to organise job fairs and conduct on-the-spot interviews with job seekers. It is also equipped with "Job Easy" touch screen vacancy search terminals, which display construction job vacancies by category, to assist job seekers to search for job opportunities in the industry.
 
     Job seekers are also allowed to use the computers, telephones and fax machine in the CIRC to browse the LD's Interactive Employment Service website, prepare application letters and resumes, and contact potential employers. In addition, the CIRC has strengthened its services to ethnic minority job seekers by displaying employment information and recruitment services in their languages at a dedicated area. Employment Service Ambassadors, who are familiar with languages of the ethnic minorities, are available on-site to provide support to those in need.
 
     Before concluding the visit, Mrs Lam met with job seekers at the centre to learn more about their employment needs and problems encountered in their daily lives. She thanked the officers of the CIRC and encouraged them to continue to uphold their professionalism in serving the job seekers.

Ends/Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:40

NNNN