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The following is issued on behalf of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority:
Mandatory Provident Fund benefits are the fruit of the hard work of the working population. The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (the MPFA) treats every complaint against employers defaulting on MPF contributions seriously, and takes all practical steps to recover contributions in arrears and to combat non-compliance, said MPFA Managing Director, Mrs Diana Chan.
Mrs Chan said that for the eighth year in a row, MPFA staff members had received the Ombudsman's Awards for Officers of Public Organisations. This year,the MPFA also received the Ombudsman's Award for Public Organisations. She said it is indeed encouraging to see that the MPFA's efforts are being recognised.
She added that since the MPF System was launched in year 2000, MPFA staff have been endeavouring to implement this colossal social project by holding onto the core values of "Commitment, Quality, Teamwork and Community Perspective."
"With a brief history of only ten years, the MPF System definitely has room for improvement," she continued, "and we will surely continue to perfect our work."
MPFA Assistant Manager, Ms Lilian Ching, and Inspector, Ms Ceci Yue, both from the Member Protection Division, received Ombudsman's Awards for Officers of Public Organisations this year.
Ms Lilian Ching said the experience she gained in the MPFA over the past four years has made her realise the importance of the MPF contributions for grassroots workers.
She recalled a case where a group of cleaning workers were owed MPF contributions by their employer. Some of them were so scared of being discovered that they were reporting their employer they had to talk to her privately. As they were afraid their employer would know that they were in contact with the MPFA, they dared not call her during working hours, but only during lunch or after work.
However, Ms Ching convinced one of them to serve as a witness in the prosecution against the employer. Her efforts paid off as the employer was convicted and fined, and had to settle the outstanding contributions for all employees.
Another award winner, Ms Ceci Yue, has handled many MPF contribution default cases in the past. She once helped a retired elderly man recover his about $10,000 MPF contributions after relentless efforts to pursue the sum from the employer.
Ms Yue said, "For many, $10,000 is not a lot of money, but for him it was. He was overwhelmed with joy when he learnt that the MPFA had recovered the contributions. I was also very happy that I could help."
Both Ms Ching and Ms Yue said MPF benefits are part and parcel of every employee's assets and for many, particularly low-income earners, they make a difference for their retired life. All MPFA staff are committed to doing their very best to help employees recover any outstanding contributions, with the ultimate goal of securing a better retirement for the working population.
Ends/Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:55
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