Company and its director fined for late payment of wages

     Gulf Connexions Limited and its director were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay wages to employees. The company and its director pleaded guilty at Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (January 4) and were each fined $70,000, making a total of $140,000.

     The company failed to pay five employees' wages totalling about $270,000 within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods in accordance with the Employment Ordinance (EO). The director concerned was convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences.

     "The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers 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.