"Launch Your Career" to help secondary school leavers plan their future
The Labour Department (LD) will launch a special programme, "Launch Your Career", from May to August for secondary school leavers who intend to enter the employment market. Through an array of diversified pre-employment training and employment services, the programme aims to help school leavers obtain the latest employment information, plan their careers and enhance their employability. The programme is expected to attract about 15000 participants.
An LD spokesperson said, "We have identified various job vacancies suitable for secondary school leavers, who can browse the vacancies on the dedicated webpage of 'Launch Your Career' and apply according to their personal aspirations."
The dedicated webpage also provides details on different types of job fairs organised by the LD, including:
* Recruitment days under the Youth Employment and Training Programme (YETP): YETP targets young people aged 15 to 29 with educational attainment at sub-degree level or below. Trainees placed into employment will undergo salaried on-the-job training for six to 12 months;
* Recruitment days held at the LD's job centres in different districts and industry-based recruitment centres: Job seekers may have on-the-spot job interviews with employers from various industries, speeding up their job hunting process; and
* Large-scale job fairs: A diverse range of job vacancies, many of which are suitable for secondary school leavers, will be provided.
"To equip school leavers by enhancing their job interview skills and instilling proper values in their work ethics, the LD's two youth employment resource centres, namely Youth Employment Start (Y.E.S.) in Mong Kok and Kwai Fong, will organise a series of practical training courses through the 'Career Fresh Up' programme at the same time. We also provide career assessment and career consultation for school leavers to plan their careers in advance," the spokesman said.
"We encourage secondary school leavers opting to enter the employment market to join our YETP, which provides one-stop comprehensive pre-employment and on-the-job training. With no pre-set quota, the programme is free of charge, with allowances payable to trainees. In addition, the Greater Bay Area Work Experience Attachment Programme (WEP) will be launched for the first time, offering one-month workplace attachment in June in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Mainland cities for YETP trainees aged 18 to 29. WEP also provides preparatory training, free accommodation in the GBA, workplace attachment allowance, etc. The deadline of application is May 14. Details are available on the thematic webpage (www.yes.labour.gov.hk/YETP/Other/WEP)."
The latest information of "Launch Your Career" has been uploaded to its dedicated webpage (www.jobs.gov.hk/launchyourcareer). Details of various events are also enclosed in the appendix. Enquiries can be made at the LD's 24-hour hotline 2717 1771, which is operated by 1823.
Source: AI-generated images
CFS to follow up certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula with possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 10) said that, it took initiative to meet with Nestlé Hong Kong again today, and confirmed the company's today announcement of an additional batch of powdered infant and young children formula suspected to have possibly used the raw material concerned. Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall. The CFS has collected samples of powdered infant and young children formula from the market for Bacillus cereus testing, the test results so far were satisfactory. The Environmental and Ecology Bureau is also closely monitoring the supply situation of other formula milk powder and maintaining communication with other major suppliers. It is noted that there is sufficient formula milk powder to meet the demand.
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), Photo source: reference image
The spokesman said, the CFS has been actively following up on Nestlé company's voluntary and precautionary recalls of certain batches of its powdered infant and young children formula in certain areas in Europe due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. According to the latest information from Nestlé Hong Kong today, an additional batch of its powdered infant and young children formula imported into Hong Kong might have used the raw material concerned. The CFS had earlier enhanced surveillance in the market and collected a sample from the above batch for testing of Bacillus cereus. The test result of the sample was satisfactory. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall.
Product details are as follows:
Product name (Net weight): NAN PRO 1 2 HMO (800g)
Batch number: 51670742F2
Best-before date: June 16, 2027
Place of Origin: Germany
"The CFS met Nestlé Hong Kong again today, urging them to properly handle the product recall issue and respond to public enquiries, in order to safeguard consumers' legitimate rights and interests. In addition, the CFS and Nestlé Hong Kong have jointly followed up, six suspected affected batches of infant and young children formula products that had not entered the market were marked and sealed. An additional 15 batches are currently en route to Hong Kong and will also be marked and sealed upon arrival. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety, " the spokesman said.
Nestlé Hong Kong has initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may contact the company through the following channels:
Consumer services hotline: 2599 8874 / 2797 6031/ 2179 8136 (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm)
Email: consumerservices@hk.nestle.com
WhatsApp: 5283 4139 (NESTLÉ® NAN®) / 2599 8871 (Wyeth® Nutrition)
Online form: forms.office.com/e/BhqMhWfsUG?origin=lprLink
Consumers may choose to bring along the products (brand new or opened) for refund at place of purchase, or at exclusive service counters of Nestlé Nutrition Services from January 13 (Tuesday) onwards, to settle the recall and refund of the batches of the products concerned. Details of the exclusive service counters are as follows:
Kowloon Services Counter
Address: G/F, Park Hovan Commercial Building, 18 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Jordon Station Exit D)
Contact number: 3996 8196
Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm; Sunday, 1pm to 5.30pm (except public holidays)
Hong Kong Services Counter
Address: 1/F, Ka Nin Wah Commercial Building, 423-425 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong (MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit B)
Contact number: 3996 8197
Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm (except Sundays and public holidays)
The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted earlier that certain batches of Nestlé powdered infant formula were being voluntarily recalled in Europe due to possible contamination with Bacillus cereus. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS has immediately initiated follow up actions, published food incident posts to inform the public and the trade about the issue, and has been actively following up on the incident and enhanced surveillance.
Over the past three days (as of 4pm on January 9), the FEHD received a total of 18 food complaints and enquiries suspected to be related to the infant and young children formula products, including one anonymous complaint without contact information. The CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch have promptly followed up on all cases, including contacting the parties concerned to obtain details and collecting samples for testing. In addition, the CFS has referred the cases to the health department for follow-up. At present, no food poisoning cases related to the formula have been recorded.
Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
The spokesman urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batches of the products, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the products concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately.
"The CFS continues to closely monitor the developments of the situation, follow up and take appropriate action," the spokesman said.
The infant formula of Nestlé, Photo source: online image
