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Chun Hung Construction Engineering Limited was fined $40,000 at the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts today (January 12) for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The employer failed to pay wages to two employees within seven days of the expiry of the wage period and the termination of employment. The amount of wages involved was about $30,000.
According to Section 23 and 25 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon expiry of the last day of the wage period or 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 call its complaint hotline, 2815 2200 immediately.
Ends/Friday, January 12, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:26
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