Jointly organised by the HKSAR Government and HKTDC, the Business of IP Asia Forum is an annual flagship event for intellectual property (IP) policymakers, owners, users, investors and professionals to exchange thought leadership and market trends as well as explore business opportunities in Asia and beyond. The 2023 edition attracted more than 90 prominent speakers and 2,500 participants from 35 countries and regions. The 14th edition of BIP Asia Forum will be held on 5-6 December 2024 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Under the theme of “Reimagining IP for Impact and Growth”, it will examine the immense potential of IP in nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship, and driving impactful economic and social development on a global scale. As a Supporting Organisation of the Forum, members of Environmental Contractors Management Association are eligible for a special discount price of HKD 860 per person for the Standard Pass (original price HKD 2,150). To enjoy the special rate, please register with the promotion code “SO24101SD” Register now: https://bipasia.hktdc.com/conference/bip/en/onlineregistration For more information, please visit: - Forum website: http://www.bipasiaforum.com - Forum brochure: https://pp.hktdc.com/dm/bip/2024/BIP_Brochure_2024_2.pdf - Video highlights from last year's forum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=B98RruuvUd4

Employers Will Not Save Severance Payment/Long Service Payment Expenses by Dismissing Employees Before the Abolition of MPF Offsetting Arrangement   The abolition of MPF offsetting arrangement will take effect on 1 May 2025 (i.e. the transition date).  The Labour Department would like to stress that dismissing existing employees before 1 May next year and employing new ones cannot save money; it may even incur additional costs.  Since the abolition of MPF offsetting arrangement has no retrospective effect, employers can still use the accrued benefits of their MPF mandatory contributions to offset employees’ pre-transition portion of severance payment (SP) and long service payment (LSP).  On the contrary, employers can no longer offset SP/LSP of newly hired employees after the transition date. Furthermore, the pre-transition portion of SP/LSP will be calculated on the basis of the monthly wages immediately preceding the transition date.  In other words, irrespective of the length of employment of an existing employee after the transition date and whether there is a pay rise, the pre-transition portion of SP/LSP of that employee would be the same as if the employee is terminated right before the abolition. Please refer to the attached leaflet or visit our thematic website on the abolition of MPF offsetting arrangement at https://www.op.labour.gov.hk/en for detailed information.  We appreciate if your association/ organisation would further distribute this message and the relevant attachment to your members. Attachment: Leaflet - Employers dismissing existing employees and employing new ones cannot save money under the abolition of MPF offsetting arrangement   Employment Benefits Support Division Labour Department Email address: ebsd@labour.gov.hk

Please see the attached letter from EPF. Mercury Control Ordinance

勞工處就取消強積金「對沖」安排設計了專題網站  提供取消「對沖」安排的資料和範例  協助僱主、僱員及公眾了解取消「對沖」安排及相關的配套措施 www.op.labour.gov.hk 此外，取消強積金「對沖」安排專題網站上設有網上計算工具 (取消「對沖」計得掂)  協助僱主估算將來取消「對沖」生效後，在扣除政府資助後須承擔的遺散費 / 長服金款項，以及比較僱員在取消「對沖」前後可獲得的權益總和 www.op.labour.gov.hk/tc/calculator.html

各位業界友好：   為幫助市民積極培養綠色生活文化，減廢回收，環保署推出了《減廢回收約章》予住宅處所，以提升住戶的回收意識及習慣，計劃將於2024年6月1日起開始接受申請。   住宅處所的物業管理公司／業主立案法團／居民組織在簽署《減廢回收約章》時，須承諾在處所內便利居民的地點提供分類回收設施，協助和鼓勵住戶進行源頭分類和利用處所內的回收箱乾淨回收各類常見回收物，並交由可靠的回收商處理、備存各類回收物的收集和運送紀錄，以及定期向居民公布季度性回收數據，以提升回收物管理績效。環保署在收到申請後會評估有關處所是否符合參加條件，並向有需要的處所提供適切的技術支援。   在2024年11月30日前成功簽署《減廢回收約章》的住宅處所可獲免費提供指定袋，以供物業管理公司／業主立案法團／居民組織／其他管理團體在其管理的住宅處所派發予住戶使用。如有任何疑問，可致電環保署熱線2838 3111或電郵至recyclingcharter@epd.gov.hk       。   詳情請參閱附件。 環保署減廢回收約章 多謝垂注。   ***有勞各屬會秘書處轉發資料予屬會會員***   香港環境衛生業界大聯盟 秘書處 鄭小姐 (電話：3112 0993)

惡劣天氣及「極端情況」下工作安排的宣傳刊物   因應政府去年九月初首次發出「極端情況」公布的經驗，勞工處已修訂了在颱風及暴雨情況下工作的守則。修訂後的《守則》重申僱員在惡劣天氣或「極端情況」下工作安排的基本原則，包括︰   (i)    在任何情況下，僱主應以僱員的安全為首要考慮； (ii)   僱主應體諒每位僱員可能面對的不同情況，並考慮當中的實際困難和需要，作出情理兼備及彈性的處理； (iii)    僱主必須履行相關勞工法例下的法定責任及規定； (iv)   僱主在制定有關工作安排時，應充分諮詢及考慮員工的意見，並確保所有僱員知悉和同意有關安排；以及 (v)    僱主應盡量將在工作地點當值的人數減至最少。   主要的修訂包括︰   (i)    守則的名稱由《颱風及暴雨情況下工作守則》更改為《惡劣天氣及「極端情況」下工作守則》； (ii)   「極端情況」並不限於在超強颱風後才公布，其生效期間亦非以兩小時為單位。政府會按實際情況，在公布中列明「極端情況」生效的期限，及適時公布是否需要延長； (iii)    「極端情況」與八號或更高熱帶氣旋警告信號（八號或更高信號）或黑色暴雨警告信號的工作安排參考指引在《守則》內並列，方便公眾閱覽；以及 (iv)   如僱主需要僱員在八號或更高信號、黑色暴雨警告信號或「極端情況」生效期間返回工作地點當值，有關僱員統稱為「指定人員」（前稱「必要人員」），從而更貼切反映實際情況。   隨電郵附上勞工處修訂的《惡劣天氣及「極端情況」下工作守則》及《惡劣天氣及「極端情況」下工作守則一覽》的網址及下載二維碼，供僱主和僱員參考。    

《惡劣天氣及「極端情況」下工作守則》       Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and "Extreme Conditions"	https://www.labour.gov.hk/tc/public/pdf/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf       https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf	(中文版) (English version)
《惡劣天氣及「極端情況」下工作守則一覽》         Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and "Extreme Conditions" (at a Glance)	https://www.labour.gov.hk/tc/public/wcp/Rainstorm_glance.pdf         https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm_glance.pdf	(中文版) (English version)

  如需刊物的印刷本，請致電2121 8690與本處勞資協商促進科庾小姐聯絡，或到在勞工處勞資關係科各分區辦事處（地址：https://www.labour.gov.hk/tc/tele/lr1.htm ）索取。 勞工處 勞資協商促進科