Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Two directors of Ocean Empire International Limited were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violating the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The two directors pleaded guilty at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today (April 27) and were fined a total sum of $132,000.
The company wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the requirements of the EO, failing to pay 10 employees’ wages within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of employment contract, totalling about $563,000. The two directors concerned were prosecuted and convicted for their consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences.
“The ruling will disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and responsible officers of companies that they have personal liability to ensure payment of wages to employees within the statutory time limit stipulated in the EO,” 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.