A director of DME Microelectronics Limited was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violation of the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The director had pleaded guilty earlier at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts and was sentenced today (May 31) to two months' imprisonment suspended for two years. The director was also ordered to pay an outstanding sum of about $510,000 in total via the court to the employees concerned.

     The company wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the requirements of the EO, failing to pay two employees wages and payment in lieu of notice totalling about $445,000 within seven days after the termination of employment in accordance with the EO, and also failing to pay the awarded sums of about $510,000 in total to the two employees within 14 days after the date set by the Labour Tribunal (LT). The director concerned was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences.

     "The judgment 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 and the awarded sums as ordered 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, May 31, 2024
Issued at HKT 18:20

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