An employer was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) under the Employment Ordinance (EO) for failing to pay three employees' wages and defaulting on the sums awarded by the Labour Tribunal (LT). The employer pleaded guilty at Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (May 14) and was fined $76,500. The employer was also ordered to pay outstanding sums of about $76,000 via the court to the three employees.
The employer failed to pay three employees' wages about $76,000 within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of employment as required by the EO. Also, the employer 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 ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers 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.
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