Eighty-two former employees of local bakery chain Taipan have sought help from the Labour Department as of noon on Tuesday, according to Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun.

He was responding to media enquiries after the firm announced its closure on Tuesday morning.

Sun, who put the total workforce at Taipan at around 200, believes that more ex-staff will approach the department for help.

“We learnt that most of the claims involve overdue salary payments for May and June," he said.

"There are also claims regarding severance payments and holiday pay.

"Of course, we need detailed calculations. We will provide full support to the workers.”

Sun also said the department has made contact with the company regarding the closure and briefed its executives on the procedures and their responsibilities.

Regarding reports quoting ex-staff as saying that the company had secretly transferred funds before announcing the closure, Sun said the Labour Department will follow standard procedures in investigating whether there has been any abuse of Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund provisions.

The government-established fund provides financial assistance to employees whose wages are unpaid due to their employer’s insolvency or bankruptcy.

However, Sun stressed that this investigation will be conducted separately and will not delay the department’s primary focus, which is to help workers recover their owed payments as quickly as possible.

The Hotels, Food and Beverage Employees' Association said it has received requests for assistance from about 200 employees, involving claims amounting to approximately HK$35 million.
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Last updated: 2025-06-24 HKT 20:03