Company director fined for contravening Employment Ordinance

     The director of Po Fat (Hong Kong) Construction Engineering Limited was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for defaulting on the sum awarded by the Labour Tribunal (LT) to three employees, contrary to the Employment Ordinance (EO). The director pleaded guilty at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts and was sentenced to a fine of $60,000 today (September 7). The defendant was also ordered to pay an outstanding sum of about $266,000 to the employees concerned.
 
     The company failed to pay the sum of about $266,000 awarded by the LT within 14 days in accordance with the requirements of the EO. The director concerned was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences committed by the company.
 
     "The judgment will disseminate a strong message to all corporate directors and responsible officers that they have personal liability to pay the awarded sums according to the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board 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.