************************************************************
The owner of a paper box wooden mode factory was sentenced at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts yesterday (May 29) to four months in jail, suspended for two years, for defaulting on payment of Labour Tribunal award offence under the Employment Ordinance. The employer was also ordered to clear the outstanding sum and pay an additional $5,000 to the employee concerned via the court. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The Labour Department welcomes the court sentence. This is the third case this year in which an employer or a company's responsible person was sentenced to imprisonment due to wage offences or default of Labour Tribunal award offences.
The said employer failed to pay the awarded sum to the employee concerned within 14 days after the specified payment dates of the Labour Tribunal award. The outstanding amount was about $180,000.
"Employers should comply with the Employment Ordinance. The Labour Department does not tolerate wage offences or defaulting on payment of Labour Tribunal award offences and spares no efforts in prosecuting employers who defy the law," a spokesperson for the Labour Department said.
The Labour Department will continue to safeguard the statutory employment rights and benefits of employees in Hong Kong. The spokesperson urged all employees who suspect that they have been deprived of their employment rights and benefits should promptly report to the Labour Department, assist in investigation and give evidence to protect their statutory rights and benefits.
Ends/Friday, May 30, 2014
Issued at HKT 11:01
NNNN
