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Natural Express Limited, which engaged in the transport industry, was fined $24,000 at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (February 2) 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 as required by the Employment Ordinance.
According to Section 23 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon expiry of the last day of the wage period shall be paid as soon as practicable but not later than seven days thereafter.
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/Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:55
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