Company and its director fined $152,000 for contravening Employment Ordinance

     HK Bio-Rhythm R&D Company Limited and its director were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violation of the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company and its director pleaded guilty at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts today (April 19) and were fined a total sum of $152,000.

     The company wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the requirement of the EO, failing to pay four employees' wages within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods totalling about $703,000. The director concerned was prosecuted and convicted for her consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences.

     "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.