Firm fails to pay an employee about $34,000 in wages
Ready to Cook Limited and its director were fined on Monday after pleading guilty to wage-related violations under Hong Kong's Employment Ordinance (EO).
The Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts fined them a total sum of HK$60,000, with the company also ordered to pay an outstanding sum of about HK$34,000 to the employee involved.
According to Hong Kong's Labour Department (LD), the company was prosecuted for failing to pay an employee wages within seven days after the expiry of the wage period and the termination of an employment contract totalling approximately HK$34,000.
The employee was also not given the awarded sum of about HK$34,000 within the 14 days set by the Labour Tribunal (LT).
"The director concerned was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance, or neglect in the above offences," the department added.
A spokesperson for the Labour Department said the ruling serves as a reminder for organisations of their responsibilities under Hong Kong's Employment Ordinance.
"The ruling 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, as well as the sums awarded by the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board," the spokesperson said in a statement.
"The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights."
Hong Kong's Employment Ordinance requires employers to pay an employee wages "as soon as practicable but in any case, not later than seven days after the end of the wage period."
"An employer is required to pay interest on the outstanding amount of wages to the employee if he fails to pay wages to the employee within seven days when it becomes due," the EO read.
