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An employer of a tutorial centre, Mr Ng Kwok-chung, was fined $14,000 at the Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Courts today (June 28) for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The employer failed to pay wages to four employees within seven days of the expiry of the wage period and the termination of employment as required by the ordinance.
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 call its complaint hotline, 2815 2200 immediately.
Ends/Thursday, June 28, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:42
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