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    Employers of foreign domestic helpers are reminded that they should not pay their helpers below the minimum allowable wage, otherwise they will be in breach of the Employment Ordinance and are liable to prosecution.

    An employer, Ms Cheung Ling-lee, has been prosecuted by the Labour Department for underpaying wages to her Filipino domestic helper. She was convicted on her own plea and fined $12,000 at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (April 19).

    For 14 months during the employment, the defendant only paid her domestic helper $3,000 a month, which was below the minimum allowable wage of $3,670 that was specified in the employment contract. In relation to the underpayment of wages and other termination payments, the domestic helper had initiated civil claims at the Labour Tribunal earlier against the defendant and got back $20,000 in separate proceedings.

    "Employers of foreign domestic helpers should not pay their helpers below the minimum allowable wage stipulated by the Government, under the ordinance, the maximum fine for underpayment of wages is $200,000 and imprisonment for one year," a spokesman for the Labour Department said.  

    In addition, employers who intend to pay their domestic helper below the minimum allowable wage, but submit an employment contract with the minimum allowable wage rate, may also be liable to a charge of making a false statement or representation under the Immigration Ordinance. The offence carries a maximum penalty of $150,000 and 14 years' imprisonment.

Ends/Tuesday, April 19, 2005

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