​Kingstar Shipping Limited and its director were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay wages and end-of-year payments in accordance with the requirements of the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company and the director pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (December 11) and were fined $175,000 and $155,000 respectively, making a total fine of $330,000.

     The company failed to pay four employees' wages and end-of-year payments totalling about $1,099,000 within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and the day specified in the employment contract for paying end-of-year payment as required by the EO. The director was convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the above wage offences.

     "The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages and end-of-year payments to employees within the statutory time limit stipulated in the EO," a spokesman for the LD said.

     "The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," the spokesman added.

Ends/Friday, December 11, 2020
Issued at HKT 18:42

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