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A renovation contractor was fined $40,000 today (July 6) at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts for committing wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. He was also ordered to clear the outstanding wages via the court. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The employer failed to pay wages to an employee within seven days after the expiry of the wage period and termination of employment as required by the ordinance. The amount of wages involved was $13,350.
According to sections 23 and 25 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon expiry of the last day of the wage period or upon termination of employment shall be paid as soon as practicable, but not later than seven days. 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.
Employees who are owed wages should immediately report it to the Labour Department's complaint hotline at 2815 2200.
Ends/Monday, July 6, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:32
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