The Labour Department has set up special counters and hotlines to help 900 retrenched Security Centre employees, including security guards and clerical staff.

The counters have been set up at the department's 10 Labour Relations divisional offices and 12 Job Centres. Affected employees can also call 2922 6222 or 2552 0131 for enquiries.

The department said some employees have already received wages for last month. It will urge the employer to pay the wages in arrears to the remaining employees. The employer should also pay dismissal compensation to those dismissed employees.

Security services

Since the company is awarded security services contracts by individual Government departments, the department is liaising with them to help affected employees.

The Leisure & Cultural Services Department said the company is providing security services in a number of its venues under four contracts involving 150 staff.

The department has reached an agreement with the company to ensure that the outstanding December wages for these workers will be paid. The relevant part of the service fee for December to be used for paying the salary of the staff will be used by the company for the purpose. The payment will be made by the company under the co-ordination of the Labour Department.

Services maintained

The company also agreed to maintain services under its existing contracts until the Leisure & Cultural Services Department arranges for new contractors to take over.

Salary accrued during the period is expected to be settled in the same arrangement.

The department will also encourage the new contractors to re-employ the affected workers.