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Mr Chan Chin-pin trading as Sum Wo Timber Company was fined $15,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (December 16) for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The employer failed to pay wages to an employee within seven days of the expiry of the wage period and the termination of employment. The amount of wages involved was about $35,000.
According to Section 23 and 25 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon expiry of the last day of the wage period or upon termination of employment must be paid as soon as practicable within seven days.
Any employer who fails to do so wilfully and without reasonable excuse is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for one year.
Ends/Friday, December 16, 2005
Issued at HKT 16:25
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