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Memories & Melodies Hong Kong Limited was fined $39,000 at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (June 7) for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecutions were launched by the Labour Department.
The employer of the company failed to pay wages to an employee within seven days of the expiry of the wage period and the termination of employment.
The employer also failed to pay annual leave pay to the employee within seven days after the termination of employment.
In addition to paying the fines, the employer was ordered to clear the outstanding wages and annual leave pay to the employee concerned 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.
And according to Section 41D, where an employee ceases to be employed and annual leave is due to him, the employer shall pay to him the annual leave pay 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 call its complaint hotline, 2815 2200 immediately.
Ends/Thursday, June 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:50
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