Company’s directors and manager fined $216,000 for contravening the Employment Ordinance

     Two directors and a manager of Bo Wing Construction Engineering Company Limited were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay wages and defaulting on the sums awarded by the Labour Tribunal (LT) with respect to six employees, in violation of the Employment Ordinance (EO). The three defendants pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today (September 5) and were fined a total of $216,000. The defendants were also ordered to pay an outstanding sum totalling about $150,000 via the court to the six employees.

     The above company failed to pay the six employees’ wages totalling about $150,000 within seven days after the termination of employment as required by the EO. The company also failed to pay the employees the same awarded sum within 14 days after the date set out by the terms of the LT award in accordance with the EO. The directors and manager concerned were convicted for their consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences. 

     "The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay employees' wages within the time limit in accordance with the EO and awarded sums according to the terms of the awards issued by the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board," a spokesman for the LD said.

     "The LD will not tolerate these offences and will continue to make dedicated efforts in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees’ statutory rights," the spokesman added.