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Gainway Cleaning Limited was fined $320,000 today (March 30) at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts for committing wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The company failed to pay wages to eight employees within seven days after the expiry of the wage period as required by the ordinance. The amount of wages involved was about $70,000.
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. 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.
Employees who are owed wages should immediately report it to the Labour Department's complaint hotline at 2815 2200.
Ends/Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:46
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