Revised "Guidance Notes on Safe Use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms"   Dear Sir/ Madam,   The Labour Department (LD) launched the revised "Guidance Notes on Safe Use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms" (GNs) today to call on duty holders of workplaces to enhance safety measures in preventing accidents.  

2. In response to accidents involving mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) at various workplaces in recent years, the LD has revised and renamed the original “Guidance Notes on Safe Use of Power-operated Elevating Work Platforms”, incorporating common causes of the accidents and preventative measures.  Major revisions include:

 

• further specifying training requirements for operators, including both theoretical and practical training.  After the completion of the training, operators should duly pass appropriate assessments to become competent operators; and
• adding new operational requirements:
  • installation of effective secondary guarding devices to eliminate the risk of workers being trapped by overhead or adjacent structures or obstacles;
  • conducting regular non-destructive tests on critical load-bearing components to ensure load-bearing structures and supporting structures of MEWPs are in good condition; as well as
• formulating emergency rescue plans to respond to emergency situations so as to reduce injuries and fatalities.

 

3. A grace period is provided for the new requirements of operator training and installation of secondary guarding devices until 31 December 2026 (i.e. taking effect on 1 January 2027).  The industry must seize the time to make sufficient preparation before the grace period expires.

 

4. The GNs can be downloaded from the LD’s website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/os/C/EWP.pdf) .  Enquiries on the GNs can be made at 2542 2172.

  Best regards,   (CHOI Yuen-ching) for Commissioner for Labour  

敬啟者：   現通知 貴機構及會員，本署轄下堆填區及廢物轉運站於二零二六年農曆新年期間的開放時間已作出更新，詳情請參閱附件。   EPD_to_trade_2026年農曆新年堆填區及廢物轉運站開放時間    如有任何查詢，可致電本署馮修朗先生  (電話：2872 1631)。   謹祝  商褀及新年進步。   環境保護署謹啟

各位商會領導及業界朋友：   立法會財經事務委員會將會討論政府提出的強積金「全自由行」立法建議。政府建議分兩階段完成立法工作，先於2025年內完成為新聘僱員的方案（首階段方案）提供法律依據，再於2026年內展開餘下的修例工作，落實現有僱員的方案（次階段方案）。   首階段方案（適用於新聘僱員）的運作模式與「僱員自選安排」大致相同，透過僱員自選強積金計劃的 個人帳戶 ，接收由僱主參加的強積金計劃的供款帳戶轉出的僱主強制性供款。   至於次階段方案（適用於現有僱員），透過僱員自選強積金計劃的 專項帳戶 ，接收由僱主參加的強積金計劃的供款帳戶轉出的僱主強制性供款。這是由於仍有需要區分及追蹤僱主強制性供款的轉移，以作可能的強積金「對沖」之用。   就轉移次數方面，政府建議沿用現時「僱員自選安排」的轉移機制，即一般情況下每個公曆年內一次。   詳情請參閱以下的政府討論文件： https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr2025/chinese/panels/fa/papers/fa20250602cb1-918-3-c.pdf   如有任何意見，歡迎與我們聯絡。謝謝。   邵家輝議員辦事處謹啟

Promotional materials on work arrangements in times of adverse weather and “extreme conditions” Employers should make prior work arrangements for staff in times of adverse weather and “extreme conditions”.  Please refer to the website and QR codes below for downloading the Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and “Extreme Conditions” and the Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and “Extreme Conditions” (at a Glance) produced by the Labour Department for reference by employees and employers.  

Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and “Extreme Conditions”	https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf	(English version)
Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and “Extreme Conditions” (at a Glance)	https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm_glance.pdf	(English version)

  If printed copies are required, please contact Miss Joey YU at 2121 8690, or visit at the branch offices of Labour Relations Division of the Labour Department (Address: https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/tele/lr1.htm  ).   Workplace Consultation Promotion Division Labour Department

Please see the attachment. FEHD Anti-mosquito Campaign 2025 (Phase I)

EPD - Opening Hours and Contact Numbers of Landfills and Refuse Transfer Stations during Lunar New Year 2025 (25 Jan 2025 - 31 Jan 2025) EPD_to_trade_2025年農曆新年堆填區及廢物轉運站開放時間

  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