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High Merit Ltd trading as New Fuk Wan Seafood Hotpot Restaurant, was fined $67,500 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (April 17)for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The case involved seven employees with different posts including waiter, kitchen workers and sales manager. They were not paid wages after seven days after termination of their employment contracts.
According to Section 23 and 25 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due on expiry of the wage period or on termination of employment must be paid as soon as practicable, but not later than seven days. Any employer who fails to do so wilfully and without reasonable excuse commits an offence and is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.
Employees who are owed wages should call the Labour Department's complaint hotline, 2815 2200, immediately.
Ends/Friday, April 17, 2009
Issued at HKT 14:11
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