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The following is issued on behalf of the Mandatory Provident Fund Authority:
Two employers were fined $14,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (January 5), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance.
Joint Well Management Limited was charged under section 7A(8) of the ordinance and pleaded guilty to 11 counts of failing to make MPF contributions for an employee within the prescribed time for the contribution periods between March 2006 and January 2007. The defendant was fined $1,000 for the each summons, totalling $11,000.
Web-On (Asia) Limited pleaded guilty to an offence under section 7(1) of the ordinance and was fined $3,000 for failing to enrol an employee in MPF scheme as required by the ordinance.
The MPFA today pursued two claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for about $23,000 on behalf of 18 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
Group Idea Limited trading as Great Shanghai Yap Pan Heung Restaurant and Rockway Industries Limited, did not appear at today's tribunal hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA $12,186.82 and $11,167.67 respectively, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The amounts awarded at the tribunal will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The tribunal further ordered the respective defendants to pay costs of $195 and $122.
Ends/Monday, January 5, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:40
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