Employer fined for wage offences
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    Mr Mickey Lee Chi-wai, trading as Lee Kong Kee, was fined $12,000 at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (November 26) for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.

     Lee failed to pay wages to three employees within seven days after the termination of employment. In addition to paying the fines, he was ordered to clear the outstanding wages via court.

     Wages due upon termination of employment should be paid as soon as practicable, but not later than seven days and 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.

     The Labour Department urged employees who are owed wages to call its complaint hotline, 2815 2200 immediately.

Ends/Monday, November 26, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:38

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