Chinese Overseas Friendship House (HK) Limited and its director were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company and its director pleaded guilty at Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (November 6) and were fined $30,000 and $24,000 respectively, making a total of $54,000. In addition, the company and the director were ordered to pay an outstanding sum of about $46,000 to the employees concerned.
The company failed to pay eight employees' wages totalling about $187,000 within seven days after the expiry of the respective wage period or the termination of employment as required by the EO. The director concerned was convicted for her consent, connivance or neglect in the above 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 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.
Follow this news feed: East Asia