Company director sentenced to 200 hours of community service for failure to pay wages

     A director of Hsin Chong Construction Company Limited was sentenced to 200 hours' community service order today (September 17) at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The director was also ordered to pay the employees concerned the total outstanding sum of about $939,000. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.

     Hsin Chong Construction Company Limited was convicted and fined earlier for committing various offences under the EO, including failing to pay wages to the employees within seven days after the expiry of the respective wage period or the termination of employment. The director concerned was convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the wage 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 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.