WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1992
33
PROTECTION FOR IMPORTED WORKERS STEPPED UP
* * *
FULLY PROTECT
THE
THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO THE STATUTORY AND CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS OF WORKERS BROUGHT IN UNDER GENERAL LABOUR IMPORTATION SCHEME.
SEEKS TO
WORKERS, WAGES, WAS
THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1992, WHICH DRASTICALLY INCREASE THE PENALTY FOR EMPLOYERS WHO UNDERPAY WHETHER LOCAL OR IMPORTED, OR WHO ILLEGALLY DEDUCT THEIR PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
"AN
OFFENDING EMPLOYER WILL, FROM NOW ON, FACE A MAXIMUM OF $100,000 FOR WAGE DEDUCTION, AND $200,000 FOR UNDERPAYMENT WAGES, PLUS IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR,' AN ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER LABOUR, MR MAK SAI-YIU, SAID.
11
FINE
OF FOR
ADEQUATE THE LABOUR
MR MAK STRESSED THAT THE HEAVIER PENALTY SHOULD HAVE DETERRENT EFFECT ON UNSCRUPULOUS EMPLOYERS AND WILL HELP DEPARTMENT BETTER PROTECT IMPORTED WORKERS FROM EXPLOITATION.
YEAR'S
OR
REQUIRED WITH
HE ADDED THAT THE MAXIMUM FINE OF $100,000 PLUS ONE CUSTODIAL SENTENCE WILL APPLY
то ALSO
OFFENCES OF WILFULLY RECKLESSLY GIVING FALSE INFORMATION, WITHHOLDING INFORMATION TO BE GIVEN UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND FAILURE TO COMPLY THE DEPARTMENT'S INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS.
PROSECUTION
FOR
AND RELATED
"THIS WILL FACILITATE OUR INVESTIGATION AND
WAGE RECORDS WHICH THE AVAILABILITY AND ACCURACY OF DOCUMENTS KEPT BY EMPLOYERS ARE ESSENTIAL EVIDENCE," HE NOTED.
OF A
"ALSO DIRECTORS, PARTNERS AND OTHER RESPONSIBLE PERSONS
FOR SUCH WILL BE HELD
NEW LEGISLATION COMPANY
LIABLE UNDER THE
DUE TO OFFENCES IF COMMITTED BY THE COMPANY WITH THEIR CONSENT, OR THEIR NEGLIGENCE,' HE SAID.
MEANWHILE,
"
THE
IMPORTATION GENERAL
OF
LABOUR
SCHEME
ALSO
PROVIDES FOR ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS AGAINST ABUSES BY EMPLOYERS.
"EMPLOYERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY WAGES THROUGH ENSURE THAT IMPORTED WORKERS RECEIVE THEIR WAGES IN SAID.
AUTOPAY
FULL, MR
11
TO MAK
SCHEME
OR AND
"EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE BREACHED THE CONDITIONS OF THE WHO HAVE EXPLOITED THEIR WORKERS WILL HAVE THEIR QUOTAS WITHDRAWN WILL BE DEBARRED FROM PARTICIPATING IN FUTURE SCHEMES," HE SAID.
"IN ADDITION, THE LUMP SUM LEVY OF $400 PER MONTH PER WHICH THEY HAVE PAID TO ENHANCE THE PROVISION OF RETRAINING FOR
HE SAID. WORKERS, WILL NOT BE REFUNDED,
WORKER, LOCAL
REQUIRE RECEIVED THE OF THEIR
MR MAK ALSO NOTED THAT THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WILL EMPLOYERS ΤΟ CERTIFY THAT THEIR IMPORTED WORKERS HAVE CONTRACTUAL WAGES WHEN THE WORKERS APPLY FOR AN EXTENSION EMPLOYMENT VISAS ONE YEAR AFTER THEIR FIRST ARRIVAL.
/"EMPLOYERS WHO