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Adrian Construction Limited was today (February 23) fined $120,000 at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts for committing a wage offence under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The company failed to pay wages to an employee within seven days after the expiry of the wage period and after the day of termination as required by the ordinance. The total amount of wages involved was about $73,000. The employer was ordered to clear the outstanding wages via the court.
According to Sections 23 and 25 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon expiry of the last day of the wage period or upon the day of termination must 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 23, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:08
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