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Four employers were fined a total of $46,500 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (December 6), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance.
In the first case, the defendant, Goldsmart Garments Limited pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time, after making deduction from the income of an employee between April and June 2003. The defendant was fined $8,000 for the first summons and $2,500 each for the other two summonses, totalling $13,000.
In the second case, the defendant, Reach Communications Limited pleaded guilty to ten counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time, after making deduction from the income of an employee between August and December 2002, and between April and August 2003. The defendant was fined $6,000 for the first summons and $1,500 each for the other nine summonses, totalling $19,500.
In the third case, the defendant, Wah Sung Construction & Piling Limited, pleaded guilty to five counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time for an employee between November 2004 and March 2005. The defendant was fined $4,000 for the first summons and $1,500 each for the other four summonses, totalling $10,000.
In the fourth case, the defendant, Lam Chiu Yin David trading as C.Y. Lam & Company, was fined $4,000 after pleading guilty to an offence of failing to enrol one employee in an MPF scheme.
Meanwhile, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today pursued two claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $24,000 on behalf of five employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
At today's hearing, the two defendants, including Au Choi Wo trading as Wing Tat Engineering Company and Rainbow Construction Engineering Limited, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sum of $13,176.82 and $11,429.26 respectively, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The amount awarded will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as it is received by the MPFA. The court further awarded payment of $190 and $80 as costs in respect of the claims.
Ends/Tuesday, December 6, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:33
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