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Asia Television Limited (ATV) and its director concerned were prosecuted by the Labour Department for committing wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. ATV was fined a total of $690,000 at Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts today (April 10) for all the 64 summonses laid against it. As the company was fined $380,000 on February 13 for like offences, it has been fined a cumulative total of $1,070,000 in respect of wage offences under the Employment Ordinance.
The Labour Department welcomes the judgement. It clearly shows that the department will spare no effort in combating wage offences. The Government does not tolerate any exploitation of employees' statutory rights, and will bring to justice any employers who defy the law.
"It is an all-time-high fine, the highest ever imposed by the court on any case of a similar nature. It helps disseminate a strong message to all employers that failure to effect payment of wages as required by the law is a serious offence and they should comply with the law. The Labour Department will continue to make dedicated efforts in protecting the statutory rights of employees," a spokesman for the Labour Department said.
Regarding the 64 summonses laid against the director of ATV for his consent, connivance or neglect in the wage offences committed by ATV, he pleaded not guilty to all the summonses. These summonses will be consolidated with another 38 summonses earlier laid against him and be handled at the Pre-trial Review scheduled for April 28 at Sha Tin Magistrates' Court.
Ends/Friday, April 10, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:04
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