[Hong Kong] Company and responsible officer fined $50,000 for violating Employment Ordinance

In Hong Kong, ​SP Digital Limited - the digital transformation subsidiary of SP Group - and its responsible officer were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violation of the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO), GovHK reports.

​SP Digital Limited and its responsible officer pleaded guilty at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on July 29 and were fined $50,000. 

The company and its responsible officer were also reportedly ordered to pay employees an outstanding sum of about $220,000.

​SP Digital Limited was found to have wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the requirement of the EO, failing to pay three employees' wages and payment in lieu of notice within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of the employment contract and failing to pay the annual leave payment to two employees within the statutory time limit. The total outstanding payment was around $220,000. 

The company’s responsible officer was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in those wage offences committed by the company.

A spokesman for the LD said, "The ruling helps 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. 

 "The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights."

Source: GovHK 

(Quote via original reporting)

In Hong Kong, ​SP Digital Limited - the digital transformation subsidiary of SP Group - and its responsible officer were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violation of the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO), GovHK reports.

​SP Digital Limited and its responsible officer pleaded guilty at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on July 29 and were fined $50,000. 

The company and its responsible officer were also reportedly ordered to pay employees an outstanding sum of about $220,000.

​SP Digital Limited was found to have wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the requirement of the EO, failing to pay three employees' wages and payment in lieu of notice within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of the employment contract and failing to pay the annual leave payment to two employees within the statutory time limit. The total outstanding payment was around $220,000. 

The company’s responsible officer was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in those wage offences committed by the company.

A spokesman for the LD said, "The ruling helps 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. 

 "The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights."

Source: GovHK 

(Quote via original reporting)