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The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (August 23) pursued six claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $150,000 on behalf of 10 employees owed MPF contributions by their employers.
At today's hearing, the defendants, Painting International Management Limited, Wah Tai Farm Company Limited, Wah Tai Farm Company Limited trading as Hakka Family Restaurant and Regent Forex Cargo Limited, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $46,130.9, $12,066.5, $8,242.5 and $6,392.76, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other two defendants, Poon Wai Kee Engineering Company Limited and Step Wealth Logistics Limited, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $46,200 and $35,887.76, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The amounts awarded will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The court further awarded payments of $300, $190, $100, $550, $160 and $160 as the costs in respect of the claims.
Painting International Management Limited and Poon Wai Kee Engineering Company Limited pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistracy earlier to four and 16 counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and were fined $5,000 and $65,500 respectively.
Ends/Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:48
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