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Mr Lau Kwan-wai, an employer running a pub, was today (September 20) fined at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The employer was fined $18,000 for failing to pay wages to an employee within seven days of the expiry of the wage period and the termination of employment.
According to Section 23 and 25 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due at the end of the last day of the wage period or upon termination of employment must be paid as soon as possible but not later than seven days.
Any employer who fails to do so wilfully and without reasonable excuse faces a maximum fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.
The Labour Department urged employees who were owed wages to call its complaint hotline, 2815 2200 immediately.
Ends/Thursday, September 20, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:06
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