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The following is issued on behalf of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority:
Two employers were fined a total of $61,400 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (June 2), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485).
Alliance (Far East) Holding Limited was charged under section 7A(8) of the ordinance, pleading guilty to 28 counts of failing to make MPF contributions for an employee within the prescribed time for the contribution periods between June 2005 and September 2007. The defendant was fined $8,000 for the first summons and $1,200 each for the remaining summonses, totalling $40,400.
Sharp Century Corporation Limited trading as Sin Dang Restaurant was also charged under section 7A(8) of the ordinance, pleading guilty to 11 counts of failing to make MPF contributions for an employee within the prescribed time for the contribution periods between November 2006, and September 2007. The defendant was fined $6,000 for the first summons and $1,500 each for the remaining summonses, totalling $21,000.
The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today also pursued five claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for about $83,000 on behalf of 20 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
Defendant Uni-pac International Real Estate Consultants Limited, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA $37,174.90, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other four defendants, Evertrade International Investment Enterprise Limited, Spotting Media Limited, Fashion Tex International (HK) Limited and Wisdom Color Separation Company Limited, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA $19,157.63, $10,080, $9,461.88 and $7,325.43, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The amounts awarded at the tribunal will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The tribunal ordered the respective defendants to pay costs of $156, $236, $80, $166 and $236.
Uni-pac International Real Estate Consultants Limited was previously convicted at Kwun Tong Magistracy of 14 counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $32,000.
Ends/Monday, June 2, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:40
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