Fine of $52,600 after violations involving wages
Service company United Best Consultants Limited (UBC) along with its director have been prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) of Hong Kong following a violation of the Employment Ordinance (EO).
The company was found to have wilfully failed to pay an employee wages, payment in lieu of notice, and annual pay leave which totalled to $110,000 within seven days after the expiration of the wage periods as well as the termination of employment.
This violated the requirements under the EO. The director who was involved with the offence was prosecuted and convicted.
According to a spokesperson from the LD, the judgement for the firm and the director sends a strong message to employers, directors, and officers of companies to properly pay wages to their employees within the designated time limit stated in the EO.
“The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights,” said the spokesperson.
Following the firm and its director’s guilty plea at the Eastern Magistrates’ Court regarding the violation, a fine totalling $52,600 was issued to them.
The Employment Ordinance is the legislation which provides protection to employees and their wages.
