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The following is issued on behalf of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority:
The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (18 December) pursued two claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $85,000 on behalf of 19 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
At the tribunal's hearing today, the defendant, Erawan Co. Ltd, did not dispute the amount claimed. The adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA the sum of $46,818.72, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other defendant, Man Cheong Construction Engineering Company Limited, did not appear at today's hearing. In its absence, the adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA the sum of $38,100.84, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The amounts awarded will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The tribunal further ordered the defendants to pay $170 and $218 respectively as the costs in respect of the claims.
The two defendants pleaded guilty previously at Kwun Tong Magistracy to seven counts and six counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and were fined $20,000 and $18,500 respectively.
Ends/Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:01
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