Two employers ordered to pay MPF
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The following is issued on behalf of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority:

     The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (November 5) obtained an order in the District Court for payment of outstanding MPF contributions of about $160,000 against an employer. Separately, the MPFA pursued a claim in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $20,000 on behalf of an employee, who was owed MPF contributions by the employer.

     The District Court today issued a judgment against an employer, East Win Catering Company Limited. The defendant was ordered to pay the MPFA the sum of $159,683.43, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable to six employees of the defendant.

     The District Court also ordered the defendant to pay the MPFA the sum of $10,000, being the financial penalty imposed by the MPFA for failure to make MPF contributions for its employees.

     Meanwhile, at the Small Claims Tribunal's hearing today, the defendant, Hin Sum Manpower Company Limited, did not dispute the amount claimed. The Adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA the sum of $21,251.87, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.

     The amounts awarded at the District Court and the Tribunal will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The District Court further ordered the defendant to pay costs of $930, while the Tribunal ordered the defendant to pay $120 as costs in respect of the claim.

     Hin Sum Manpower Company Limited had pleaded guilty previously at Kwun Tong Magistracy to 30 counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $84,500.

Ends/Monday, November 5, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:26

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