***********************************************
Sing Kwong Jewellery and Gold Company Limited was today (April 26) fined $37,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts for wage offences under the Employment Ordinance.
Kingying Computer Label Limited and Triple Noodle & Food Company Limited were fined $12,000 and $10,000 respectively at the Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Courts for the same offence.
Sing Kwong Jewellery and Gold Company Limited failed to pay wages to two employees within seven days of the expiry of the wage period.
The other two employers failed to pay wages to an employee and four employees respectively within seven days of the expiry of the wage period. The prosecutions were launched by the Labour Department.
According to Section 23 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon expiry of the last day of the wage period shall be paid as soon as practicable, but not later than seven days.
Any employer who fails to do so wilfully and without reasonable excuse is liable to a maximum fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.
The Labour Department urged employees who are owed wages to call its complaint hotline, 2815 2200 immediately.
Ends/Thursday, April 26, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:40
NNNN