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A construction contractor was today (February 26) fined $40,000 at the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts for a wage offence under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was taken out by the Labour Department.
The employer failed to pay wages to an employee within seven days after the termination of employment as required by the ordinance. The amount of wages involved was about $30,000. The employer was also ordered to clear the outstanding wages via the court.
According to Section 25 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon termination of employment should be paid as soon as practicable, but in any case not later than seven days. Any employer who fails to do so willfully and without reasonable excuse is liable to a maximum fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.
The Labour Department urges employees who are owed wages to call its complaints hotline 2815 2200.
Ends/Friday, February 26, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:43
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