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A construction contractor, Mr Lee Hon-man, was fined $16,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (March 15) for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The employer failed to pay wages to three employees within seven days of the termination of employment. The amount of wages involved was $12,900. In addition to paying the fine, the employer was ordered to clear the outstanding wages via court.
According to Section 25 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due 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 immediately report to its complaint hotline on 2815 2200.
Ends/Thursday, March 15, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:09
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