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The World Vision Shop Limited was fined $36,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (March 17) for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The employer failed to pay wages to four employees within seven days of the expiry of the wage period and the termination of employment as required by the ordinance. The amount of wages involved was about $86,600.
According to Section 23 and 25 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon expiry of the last day of the wage period and 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 $200,000 and imprisonment for one year.
The Labour Department urged employees who are owed wages to immediately report to its complaint hotline on 2815 2200.
Ends/Friday, March 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:34
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