Firm also ordered to pay $214,000 to employee
The director of The Boring Engineering Limited has been fined a total of $90,000 for wage-related violations under Hong Kong's Employment Ordinance (EO).
The Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts handed down the fine after it found that the director "wilfully and without reasonable excuse" contravened the requirements of the EO.
Among his violations was failing to pay an employee wages in lieu of notice within seven days after termination of an employment contract of about $36,000. He also failed to pay the awarded sum of about $214,000 within 14 days after the date set by the Labour Tribunal, according to the Hong Kong government.
The director, who pleaded guilty in court, was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance, or neglect of his duties.
He was also ordered to pay the outstanding sum of about $214,000 to the employee concerned in the case.
A spokesperson from Hong Kong's Labour Department warned that authorities will not tolerate such offences and will "spare no effort" in enforcing the law.
"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," the spokesperson said in a statement.
Hong Kong's Employment Ordinance (EO) allows employers to terminate an employee through due notice or through payment in lieu of notice.
Employees who have been working past their first month of probation are eligible for payment in lieu of notice in Hong Kong. This is also the case for employees under a continuous contract with no probation period or after completing their probation period.
Source: Hong Kong's Employment Ordinance
Calculations for the payment will vary depending on the length of the notice period.
Source: Hong Kong's Employment Ordinance
