W2E Technologies Limited and its director were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for contravention of the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company and its director pleaded guilty and were each fined $25,000, making a total fine of $50,000, at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (January 11).
The company failed to pay one employee, in accordance with the requirement of the EO, wages totalling about $6,000 within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of employment contract. The company also failed to pay a sum of about $7,000 awarded by the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board (MECAB) within 14 days after the date set by the MECAB. The director concerned was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences.
"The ruling will disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay employees' wages within the time limit stipulated in the EO and awarded sums as ordered by the Labour Tribunal or the MECAB," a spokesperson 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 spokesperson added.
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