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The following is issued on behalf of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority:
Two employers were fined $11,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (May 11), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485).
Top Design operated by Fame Gate Limited pleaded guilty to an offence under section 7(1) of the ordinance. The defendant was fined $2,000 for the summons for failing to enroll an employee in an MPF scheme as required by the ordinance.
Design Station Decoration Limited was charged for offences under section 7A(8) of the ordinance. The defendant pleaded guilty to six counts of failing to make MPF contributions for its employee within the prescribed time for the contribution periods between January and June 2008. The defendant was fined $1,500 for each summons, totalling $9,000.
Meanwhile, the MPFA today also pursued two claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $21,000 on behalf of five employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
At the tribunal's hearing today, one of the defendants, Po Kin Tong Limited, did not dispute the amount claimed. The Adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA the sum of $17,398.5 being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other defendant, Citideco Limited, did not appear at today's hearing. In its absence, the Adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA the sum of $3,857.2, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The amounts awarded at the tribunal will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The tribunal further ordered the defendants to pay $136 and $122 as the costs in respect of the claims.
Ends/Monday, May 11, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:41
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