Gov’t penalises company and director $60,000 for labor law violation

This was on top of the $34,000 to be paid to the employee concerned.

Ready To Cook Limited and its director were fined a total of $60,000 for violation of the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO).

In a statement, authorities said the company was also ordered to pay about $34,000 to the employee concerned.

Authorities concluded that the company “wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the requirements of the EO, failing to pay an employee wages within seven days after the expiry of wage periods and termination of an employment contract totalling about $34,000, as well as the awarded sum of about $34,000, within 14 days after the date set by the Labour Tribunal (LT).”

The director concerned was prosecuted and convicted for his 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 to pay wages to employees within the statutory time limit stipulated in the EO, as well as the sums awarded by the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board," a spokesman for the Labour Department said.