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Great Focus (Asia) Limited and its responsible person were fined $26,000 and $24,000 respectively at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (March 30) for offences including non-payment of wages, payment in lieu of notice and annual leave pay and default on awarded payment of Labour Tribunal under the Employment Ordinance. The company and its responsible person were also ordered to clear the outstanding Labour Tribunal awarded sums of about $26,900 to the employee concerned via the court. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The company failed to pay wages and payment in lieu of notice of about $25,300 and annual leave pay of about $600 to one employee within seven days after the termination of employment as required by the ordinance. Furthermore, the company failed to pay the awarded sums of about $26,900 to the employee concerned within 14 days after the specified payment dates of the Labour Tribunal awards. The responsible person was convicted for her consent, connivance or neglect in the offences.
"The judgment has disseminated a strong message to all companies and their responsible persons that they have to ensure that wages are paid to employees in accordance with the Employment Ordinance and awarded sums are paid according to the terms of the awards issued by the Labour Tribunal or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board," a spokesman for the Labour Department said.
"The Labour Department does not tolerate the above offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and in protecting employees' statutory rights," the spokesman added.
Ends/Monday, March 30, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:54
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