Employer fined for late payment of wages

     Sweet Desires Asia Limited was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay six employees' wages, totalling about $278,000, within seven days after the expiry of the wage period as required by the Employment Ordinance (EO). The employer was fined $56,000 after pleading guilty at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (October 18).

     "The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers that they have to pay employees wages within the time limit stipulated in the EO," an LD spokesman 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.