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Max Creator Limited trading as Hang Hing Seafood Hot Pot Restaurant was fined $46,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (December 5) for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The employer failed to pay wages to five employees within seven days of the expiry of the wage period. The amount of wages involved was about $78,000. The outstanding wages had been paid to the employees before the commencement of the trial.
According to Section 23 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon expiry of the last day of the wage period 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/Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:40
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