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Employers of foreign domestic helpers are reminded that they should not pay their helpers below the minimum allowable wage stipulated by the Government. Otherwise they will be in breach of the Employment Ordinance and are liable to prosecution.
An employer of a foreign domestic helper, Ms Lee Lai-ping, was prosecuted by the Labour Department for underpaying wages. She was fined $16,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts recently.
During the four months' employment period, the employer failed to pay wages according to the minimum allowable wage as set out by the Government at the time of signing the employment contract in 2004, $3,270, to her foreign domestic helper. The amount of wages involved was about $4,000. In addition to paying the fine, the employer was ordered to clear the owed wages with the foreign domestic helper via the court.
A spokesman for the Labour Department said today (March 4), "We have put in place an effective mechanism to assist foreign domestic helpers who have been deprived of their statutory entitlements. We are determined to carry out enforcement action under the Ordinance and will prosecute offenders if sufficient evidence is available.
"To protect his or her own interests, an employee who is owed wages should promptly report to the Labour Department, assist in investigations and give evidence," he said.
The minimum allowable wage for foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong has been increased from $3,270 to $3,320 with effect from May 19 last year, an increase of $50.
According to Section 23 and 25 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon expiry of the last day of the wage period and upon termination of employment must 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 $200,000 and imprisonment for one year.
Ends/Saturday, March 4, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:15
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