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Hi-Speed Transportation Company Limited was fined $12,000 at the Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Courts today (June 16) for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
The employer failed to pay wages to two employees within seven days of the expiry of the wage period and the termination of employment as required by the ordinance. The amount of wages involved was $25,300.กก In addition to paying the fine, the employer was ordered to clear the owed wages with the employee via court.
According to Section 23 and 25 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon expiry of the last day of the wage period or upon termination of employment shall be paid as soon as practicable, but not later than seven days.
A spokesman for the Labour Department stressed that the maximum penalty for wage offences had been raised from March 30 this year - the fine going up from $200,000 to $350,000 and imprisonment from one year to three years.
The spokesman urged employees who were owed wages to call to the department's complaints hotline on 2815 2200 immediately.
Ends/Friday, June 16, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:45
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