​SP Digital Limited and its responsible officer were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violation of the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company and its responsible officer pleaded guilty at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (July 29) and were fined a total sum of $50,000. The company and its responsible officer were also ordered to pay employees concerned an outstanding sum of about $220,000.
The company wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the requirement of the EO, failing to pay three employees' wages and payment in lieu of notice within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of employment contract, and also failing to pay the annual leave payment to two employees within the statutory time limit, with the total outstanding payment being about $220,000. The responsible officer of company concerned was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the above wage offences committed by the company.
"The ruling helps 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," 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.
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