Panda Construction Company Limited and its two directors were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violation of the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company and its two directors pleaded guilty at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (June 13) and were each fined a sum of $39,000, making a total fine of $117,000. All defendants were also ordered to pay an outstanding sum of about $88,000 via the court to the employees concerned.
 
     The company failed to pay two employees in accordance with the EO wages totalling about $96,000 within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of employments, as well as the awarded sum of about $88,000 within 14 days after the date set by the terms of the Labour Tribunal (LT) award. The directors concerned were prosecuted and convicted for their consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences committed by the company.
 
     "The ruling will disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages to employees within the statutory time limit stipulated in the EO, as well as the sums awarded by the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board," 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/Monday, June 13, 2022
Issued at HKT 15:40

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