Best Metro (Hong Kong) Limited and its director were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violation of the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company and its director pleaded guilty at Shatin Magistrates' Courts today (October 20) and were fined a total sum of $160,000. 
 
     The company failed to pay an employee, in accordance with the EO, wages of about $470,000 and annual leave pay of about $12,000 within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods or termination of employment. The company also failed to pay the awarded sum of about $460,000 within 14 days after the date set by the Labour Tribunal (LT) award. The director concerned was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the offence of defaulting the awarded sum of the LT committed by the company.
 
     "The ruling will disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages to employees within the statutory time limit stipulated in the EO, as well as the sums awarded by the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board," a spokesman for the LD said.
 
     "The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," the spokesman added.

Ends/Friday, October 20, 2023
Issued at HKT 15:40

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