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Sparkles Education Company Limited trading as Sparkles Education Centre was fined $10,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (March 1) for failing to take out insurance policies for its employees as required by the Employees' Compensation Ordinance.
The offences were detected during inspections by the Labour Department in August and October last year. It was found that the employer failed to secure insurance policies for two employees and the Labour Department launched prosecution.
Section 40(1) of the ordinance stipulates that employers are required to take out insurance policies for all their employees to cover their liabilities both under the ordinance and at common law for injuries at work.
Employers failing to secure insurance cover for their employees commit an offence and are liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year.
Employees are urged to call the complaint hotline of the department's Labour Inspection Division on 2815 2200 if they suspect that their employers have not taken out insurance cover for them. All complaints will be handled in strict confidence.
Ends/Thursday, March 1, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:20
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