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A trading company, VTL International Global Trading Co. Limited, was fined $53,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (July 19) for wage and end-of-year payment offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The employer failed to pay wages to two employees within seven days of the expiry of the wage period and the termination of employment.
In addition, the employer failed to pay the end-of-year payment to the employees within seven days after the last day of the payment period.
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.
According to Section 11E of the Employment Ordinance, an end-of-year payment payable to an employee shall become due to the employee on the last day of the payment period or the day specified in the contract of employment. The end-of-year payment shall be paid as soon as practicable but in any case not later than seven days after the due date. Any employer who fails to do so wilfully and without reasonable excuse is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000.
Employees who are owed wages should immediately report to the Labour Department's complaints hotline on 2815 2200.
Ends/Thursday, July 19, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:26
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