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Pillar Education Foundation Limited; Mr Cheung Chuen Sun, a construction contractor; and Hung Fat Engineering Company Limited, a construction company, were fined $80,000, $43,000 and $13,000 respectively at the Magistrates' Courts today (July 28) for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecutions were launched by the Labour Department.
Pillar Education Foundation Limited 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 $170,000.
Mr Cheung failed to pay wages to two employees and the amount of wages involved was about $43,000. Hung Fat Engineering Company Limited failed to pay wages of about $7,000 to an employee.
In addition to paying the fines, Pillar Education Foundation Limited and Mr Cheung were ordered to clear the outstanding wages via court.
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 shall be paid as soon as practicable, but not later than seven days.
Any employer who fails to do so wilfully and without reasonable excuse is liable to a maximum fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.
The Labour Department urged employees who are owed wages to report immediately to its complaint hotline, 2815 2200.
Ends/Friday, July 28, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:30
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