Company fined and director sentenced to suspended imprisonment for contravening Employment Ordinance

     Skilland Engineering Services (HK) Limited and its director were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay wages and defaulting on the sums awarded by the Labour Tribunal (LT) to an employee, contrary to the Employment Ordinance (EO).

     The company and its director pleaded guilty earlier at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts. The company was fined $25,000 and its director was sentenced to two months' imprisonment suspended for two years today (November 21). In addition, the company was ordered to pay an outstanding sum of $60,000 to the employee concerned via the court.

     The company failed to pay an employee's wages within seven days after the expiry of wage periods or the date of termination of employment, and the awarded sum of $60,000 within 14 days after the date of the LT award as required by the EO. The director concerned was prosecuted and convicted for his 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 and to pay the awarded sums according to the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board," an LD spokesman 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.