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Mr Chan Ho-fai, an employer in the construction sector, was fined $20,000 at the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts today (November 17) for a wage offence under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The employer failed to pay wages to an employee within seven days after the termination of employment as required by the ordinance. The amount of wages involved was about $8,600. In addition to paying the fines, the employer was ordered to clear the outstanding wages via court.
According to Section 25 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon termination of employment shall be paid as soon as practicable, but not later than seven days.
Any employer who fails to do so wilfully and without reasonable excuse is liable to a maximum fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.
The Labour Department urged employees who are owed wages to immediately report to its complaint hotline on 2815 2200.
Ends/Friday, November 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:17
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