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An employer, Mr Wong Kai-wah, was fined $45,000 at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts recently for underpaying wages to her Indonesian domestic helper. The prosecution was initiated by the Labour Department.
"Employers of foreign domestic helpers should not pay their helpers below the minimum allowable wage stipulated by the Government. Under the Employment Ordinance, the maximum fine for underpayment of wages is $350,000 and imprisonment for three years," a spokesman for the Labour Department said.
During the employment period of the Indonesian domestic helper, Mr Wong failed to pay wages according to the minimum allowable wage of $3,270 as set out by the Government at the time of signing the employment contract in 2003. The total amount of outstanding wages was about $50,000. In addition to paying the fine, the employer was ordered to clear the owed wages with the foreign domestic helper via the court.
"We have put in place an effective mechanism to assist foreign domestic helpers who have been deprived of their statutory entitlements. We are determined to carry out enforcement action under the Employment Ordinance and will prosecute employers defaulting payment of wages if sufficient evidence is available," the spokesman said.
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.
"Employees, including foreign domestic helpers, who are owed wages should promptly call the Labour Department's complaint hotline, 2815 2200, for our follow-up investigation," he said.
Ends/Sunday, June 3, 2007
Issued at HKT 11:08
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