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Two employers were fined a total of $44,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (July 3), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance.
HKB2B Limited was charged for offences under section 7A(8) of the ordinance, pleading guilty to 13 counts of failing to make MPF contributions for its employee within the prescribed time for the contribution periods between January and June, 2005, and between April and October 2006. The defendant was fined $8,000 for the first summons and $2,000 each for the remaining summonses, totaling $32,000.
Pegasus International Travel Limited pleaded guilty to an offence under section 7(1) of the Ordinance. The defendant was fined $12,000 for failing to enrol its employee in an MPF scheme as required by the ordinance.
Meanwhile, the MPFA today pursued three claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $47,000 on behalf of four employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
The three defendants, Shiu Cho Kee trading as Luen Yick Photocopy Service, La Cave D'Alfred Limited and Cheung Chung Choi trading as Tai Shun Transportation Co., did not appear. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA $22,439.16, $14,855.42 and $9,782.48, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The amounts awarded will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The Tribunal further awarded $120, $112 and $170 as the costs in respect of the claims.
La Cave D'Alfred Limited pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistracy earlier to six counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $15,000.
Ends/Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:48
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