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Armed Forces Security (H.K.) Limited was fined $42,000 at the Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Courts today (October 22) for wage and holiday pay offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The employer failed to pay wages to three employees within seven days of the expiry of the wage period and the termination of employment as required by the Employment Ordinance.
In addition, the employer failed to grant the statutory holidays of the first day of January and Ching Ming Festival to two of the employees. The employer also failed to pay holiday pay of the two statutory holidays as well as annual leave pay to the two employees in accordance with the Employment Ordinance.
According to Section 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 to imprisonment for three years.
Any employer who fails to comply with the requirements of Section 40A(2), 41D(1) or 41D(2) of the Employment Ordinance regarding the granting of statutory holiday or the payment of statutory holiday pay or annual leave pay is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 for each offence.
Employees who are owed wages should immediately report to the Labour Department's complaint hotline on 2815 2200.
Ends/Thursday, October 22, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:09
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