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    A labour inspector is authorised to enter and inspect places of employment to check records of employees kept by employers and identification documents held by employees.

    A spokesman for the Labour Department gave this reminder today (May 7) following a recent court case in which the proprietor of a restaurant was fined $4,000 and ordered to pay costs of $1,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts for obstructing two labour inspectors in the performance of their public duty. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.

    Under Section 17M(3) of the Immigration Ordinance, any person who obstructs a public officer in the execution of his duty under this provision shall be liable to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months.

    "Labour inspectors conduct frequent inspections of establishments to enforce labour laws and the Immigration Ordinance," the spokesman said. "The Labour Department takes a serious view of compliance by persons in charge of these establishments with the provision to facilitate the department's inspections. We will bring the law-defying persons to justice."

    "We also call upon the persons-in-charge to fully co-operate with the labour inspectors in discharging their duties," the spokesman said.

Ends/Saturday, May 7, 2005

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