Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun said that the Labour Department has received requests for help from around 670 employees of Physical Fitness after the fitness and beauty group announced its temporary suspension of operations.
 
Speaking to the media after attending an event today, Mr Sun explained that these employees are looking for relief concerning their unpaid wages and severance payment, noting that they are all eligible to apply for funding support under the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund (PWIF).
 
“There is a procedure under the fund. Right now, colleagues in the Labour Department together with members of the labour unions are trying their very best to persuade the employer of Physical Fitness to sign a statement declaring that they are unable to pay.
 
“If this statement could be signed, it will speed up the whole process. The 600 odd employees will get the payment under PWIF in a very speedy manner.
 
“In the event that this statement is not available, there is an established procedure which has to go through the Labour Tribunal and also to file a petition to the court, so it takes a bit more time.
 
“Yet you can rest assured that under the fund, all the affected employees can get funding support for their unpaid wages and severance payment.”
 
Apart from pointing out that some former employees of Physical Fitness are thinking about signing a contract with the newly opened gym, Healthy, the labour chief reminded them to take notice of the contract terms. 
 
“If they are considering joining the new company, they should pay attention to the terms of the new employment, make sure they know what terms are being offered, as well as the protection and terms of the employment, make sure they know what they are signing for.
 
“Also, they have to ask the new employer about how their unpaid wages and severance payment with the ex-employer would be handled.”
 
Mr Sun urged the ex-employees to make sure that they consider all the above factors before signing a new employment contract.