Super Dragon Management Limited and its director were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay wages to employees and defaulting on the sums awarded by the Labour Tribunal (LT). The company and its director pleaded guilty at Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (April 12) and were fined $114,000 and $84,000 respectively, making a total of $198,000.
The company failed to pay one employee the awarded sum totalling about $153,000 within 14 days after the date set out by the terms of the LT award as required by the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company also failed to pay four employees' wages totalling about $622,000 within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and the termination of employment. The director concerned was convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the wage offences.
"The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages and termination payments to employees within the time limit stipulated in the EO and the awarded sums according to the LT or 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.
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