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The following is issued on behalf of MPFA:
An employer was fined $20,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (August 7), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance.
Business and Industrial Trade Fairs Limited was charged with offences under section 7A(8) of the ordinance and pleaded guilty to seven counts of failing to make MPF contributions for an employee within the prescribed time for the contribution periods between August, 2006, and February, 2007. The defendant was fined $8,000 for the first summons and $2,000 each for the remaining summonses, totalling $20,000.
Meanwhile, the MPFA also pursued three claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $80,000 on behalf of four employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
Hin Sum Manpower Company Limited, did not dispute the amount claimed. The Adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA $40,122.34, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
Two defendants, Lui Kwok Chiu trading as Today's Transport Co and East Asia Construction Company Limited, did not appear. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA $25,176.84 and $15,306.48, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The amounts awarded will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The tribunal further ordered defendants to pay $195, $180 and $202 respectively as the costs in respect of the claims.
Hin Sum Manpower Company Limited previously pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistracy to 30 counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $84,500.
Ends/Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:33
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