Employer fined for non-payment of wages
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     Wisdom Alliance Dyeing Factory Limited was fined $25,000 in total at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (December 3) for committing wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was taken out by the Labour Department.

     The company failed to pay wages to five employees within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods as required by the Employment Ordinance.

     According to Section 23 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon expiry of the last day of the wage period shall be paid as soon as practicable but in any case not later than seven days thereafter.  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.

     Employees who are owed wages should immediately report it to the Labour Department's complaint hotline on 2815 2200.

Ends/Thursday, December 3, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:44

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