Employers fined for breaching MPFS Ordinance
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The following is issued on behalf of the MPFA:

     Two employers were fined $47,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (September 4), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap.485).

     Uni-Pac International Real Estate Consultants Ltd (BR no.: 34887076)was charged with offences under section 7A(8) of the Ordinance and pleaded guilty to 14 counts of failing to make MPF contributions for an employee within the prescribed time for the contribution periods between October 2005, and November 2006. The defendant was fined $6,000 for the first summons and $2,000 each for the remaining summonses, totalling $32,000.

     Home Care Nursing Centre Limited (BR no.: 32867824) pleaded guilty to offences under section 7(1) of the Ordinance. The defendant was fined $8,000 and $7,000 respectively for the two summonses for failing to enrol two employees in MPF schemes as required by the Ordinance, totaling $15,000.

     The MPFA also pursued a claim in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $40,000 on behalf of three employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.

     Chan Ping Hong trading as Express Engineering Co, did not dispute the amount claimed. The Adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA $48,481.56, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.

     The amount awarded at the tribunal will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as it is received by the MPFA. The tribunal further ordered the defendant to pay cost of $170 in respect of the claim.

Ends/Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:07

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