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A construction contractor, Mr Rickly Ho Fuk-lung, was fined $15,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (December 4) for a wage offence under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
Mr Ho failed to pay wages to an employee within seven days of the expiry of the wage period and the termination of employment. The amount of wages involved was about $26,300. In addition to paying the fines, he was ordered to clear the outstanding wages via court.
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/Monday, December 4, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:07
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