MEML Holdings Limited and its director were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for defaulting on the sums awarded by the Labour Tribunal (LT) to an employee as required by the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company and its director earlier pleaded guilty at Eastern Magistrates' Courts, and were respectively fined $20,000 and sentenced to 80 hours' community service today (April 9).

     The company failed to pay the employee the awarded sums of about $455,000 in total within 14 days after the date set out by the terms of the LT award in accordance with the EO. The director concerned was convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the offence.

     "The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers and responsible officers of companies that they have to comply with the EO and pay the awarded sums to employees according to the terms of the awards of LT or Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board. The LD will not tolerate these offences and will continue to make dedicated efforts in enforcing the EO and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," a spokesman for the LD said.

Ends/Monday, April 9, 2018
Issued at HKT 19:14

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