WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1991
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PAYMENT OF WAGES BY AUTOPAY PROPOSED
* * * * *
ACTION IS IN
HAND TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR UNLAWFUL DEDUCTION OR UNDERPAYMENT OF WAGES UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
CONSIDERATION WOULD ALSO BE GIVEN TO DEBARRING THOSE EMPLOYERS WHO HAD BEEN FOUND TO HAVE DEDUCTED WAGES UNLAWFULLY FROM PARTICIPATING IN FUTURE LABOUR IMPORTATION SCHEMES.
"AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION FOR VISA EXTENSION FOR IMPORTED WORKERS (UPON COMPLETION OF ONE YEAR'S SERVICE), THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION WILL REQUIRE EMPLOYERS ΤΟ CERTIFY THAT WAGES AS STIPULATED IN THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS ARE BEING PAID, MR CHAN SAID.
"PROVISION OF FALSE INFORMATION IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $50,000 OR 14 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE.
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LAU CHIN-SHEK, MR CHAN SAID THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECENT PROPOSAL WAS ΤΟ MAKE THE PAYMENT OF WAGES BY AUTOPAY A CONDITION FOR IMPORTING WORKERS UNDER ANY NEW SCHEME WHICH MIGHT BE INTRODUCED.
SUCH A CONDITION DID NOT APPLY UNDER THE 1989 AND 1990 IMPORTATION SCHEMES, BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN TAKING STEPS TO PERSUADE AND ENCOURAGE EMPLOYERS WHO HAD IMPORTED WORKERS UNDER THE TWO SCHEMES TO EFFECT PAYMENTS OF WAGES BY AUTOPAY ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS.
AS AT DECEMBER 9 THIS YEAR, A TOTAL OF 2,084 EMPLOYERS WERE EMPLOYING IMPORTED WORKERS UNDER THE 1989 AND 1990 SCHEMES.
"DURING THE THREE MONTHS SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER
1991, 1,664 OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS WERE INSPECTED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND 338 (THAT IS 20.3 PER CENT) WERE MAKING PAYMENT OF WAGES THROUGH BANKS,
"THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS ADVISED THE OTHER EMPLOYERS ORALLY
AND IN WRITING TO PAY WAGES BY AUTOPAY.
"WHERE THERE ARE REASONS TO SUSPECT THAT AN EMPLOYER MAY HAVE DEDUCTED WORKERS' WAGES UNLAWFULLY, ENFORCEMENT ACTION WILL BE TAKEN UNDER EXISTING LAW.
HE ALSO SAID THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO STEP UP INSPECTIONS MADE TO PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT AND LIVING QUARTERS OF THE IMPORTED WORKERS.
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