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The owner of Wing Cheong Steel Works & Engineering was fined $50,500 at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts today (January 22) for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The employer failed to pay wages to an employee within seven days of the expiry of the wage period and after the termination of employment as required by the ordinance.
According to Section 23 and 25 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon expiry of the last day of the wage period or upon termination of employment shall be paid as soon as practicable, but not later than seven days.
Any employer who fails to do so wilfully and without reasonable excuse is liable to a maximum fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.
Employees who are owed wages should immediately report it to the Labour Department's complaint hotline on 2815 2200.
Ends/Friday, January 22, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:28
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