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The following is issued on behalf of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority:
An employer was fined $5,000 at the Eastern Magistracy today (October 16), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485)(the "Ordinance").
Jumbo China Steel Enterprises Company Limited (BR no.: 21854785) pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to make MPF contributions for an employee within the prescribed time for the contribution periods between January and February 2006. The defendant was fined $2,500 on each summons, a total of $5,000.
The MPFA obtained two orders in the District Court for payment of outstanding MPF contributions at about $300,000 against two employers. The MPFA also pursued one claim in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $18,000 on behalf of 12 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employer.
The District Court today issued judgments against Home Fortune International Enterprises Limited trading as Wong Shing Seafood Hot Pot Restaurant and Wai Man Knitting Factory Limited. The defendants were ordered to pay the MPFA $151,940.61 and $146,503 respectively, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable to 59 and 2 employees of the defendants respectively.
The court also ordered Wai Man Knitting Factory Limited to pay the MPFA the sum of $5,000 being financial penalty imposed by the MPFA for failure to make MPF contributions for its employees.
At the tribunal's hearing today, the defendant, Precise Management Ltd, did not dispute the amount claimed. The Adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA $18,558.20, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The amounts both awarded at the District Court and the tribunal will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The District Court further ordered the defendant to pay costs of $930 and the tribunal ordered the defendant to pay $126 as costs in respect of the claim.
Ends/Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:40
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