XN000022-1992-02-29 — Page 2

1.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1992

HEAVY FINES FOR EMPLOYER DEDUCTING IMPORTED WORKERS'

WAGES

THAT

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (SATURDAY) REMINDED EMPLOYERS THEY WOULD BE LIABLE TO HEAVY FINES FOR UNLAWFULLY DEDUCTING THE WAGES OF THEIR IMPORTED WORKERS.

WAS

A

KONG THE LAI'S KNITWEAR MANUFACTURING LIMITED IN SAN PO CONVICTED OF NINE CHARGES OF UNLAWFUL WAGE DEDUCTION AND WAS FINED TOTAL OF $10,800 BY A KWUN TONG MAGISTRATE ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 27).

TO THE

THE COMPANY WAS FOUND BY LABOUR INSPECTORS TO HAVE DEDUCTED FROM THREE IMPORTED WORKERS AMOUNTING FROM $395.4 TO $431.4 OCCASIONS, CONTRARY

OF PROVISIONS

THE EMPLOYMENT

ON

WAGES NINE ORDINANCE.

"ACCORDING то

TO

AND

PROVISION

THE ORDINANCE, AN EMPLOYER IS NOT ALLOWED DEDUCT THE WAGES OF HIS EMPLOYEE EXCEPT UNDER SPECIFIC CONDITIONS UP TO CERTAIN LIMITS STIPULATED IN THE LAW, SUCH AS FOR THE OF FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION AND RECOVERY OF LOANS MADE BY THE EMPLOYER, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR MAK SA1-YIU SAID.

I

"ANY DEDUCTION FROM AN EMPLOYEE'S WAGES OTHER THAN IS PERMITTED MAXIMUM BY THE ORDINANCE IS UNLAWFUL, AND THE OFFENDER IS LIABLE TO A FINE OF $10,000, MR MAK SAID.

HE STRESSED THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TOOK A VERY SERIOUS VIEW BE OF EMPLOYERS WHO EXPLOITED IMPORTED WORKERS AND PROSECUTION WOULD INSTITUTED WHEN THERE WAS EVIDENCE.

"WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN PROSECUTING FIVE EMPLOYERS AND HAVE LAID THIS YEAR FOR SIX OTHER EMPLOYERS SO FAR EIGHT SUMMONSES AGAINST VARIOUS

UNDER THE ORDINANCE, CHARGES

HE

NOTING THAT SAID, PROSECUTION IS BEING CONSIDERED AGAINST A FURTHER 11 EMPLOYERS.

-

ΤΟ

"OF THE 17 CHARGES CONVICTED THIS YEAR, 15 RELATED TO DEDUCTION OF WÁGES AND LABOUR SERVICE CHARGE AND ONE TO FAILURE

GRANT

STATUTORY HOLIDAYS," HE ADDED.

MR MAK CALLED ON THOSE IMPORTED WORKERS WHO WERE EXPLOITED THEIR EMPLOYERS TO COME FORWARD AND REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT, SO PROSECUTION COULD BE TAKEN OUT AGAINST THE OFFENDING EMPLOYERS.

BY

THAT

IMPORTATION CONTRACTUAL

TO ENSURE THAT IMPORTED WORKERS GET THEIR WAGES IN FULL, MR MAK SAID EMPLOYERS ARE REQUIRED UNDER THE CURRENT LABOUR SCHEME ΤΟ PAY WAGES TO WORKERS BY AUTOPAY AS REQUIREMENT.

A

"IN ADDITION, A BILL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE LEGISLATIVE

$20,000

COUNCIL SEEKING TO INCREASE THE PENALTY FOR UNLAWFUL DEDUCTION UNDERPAYMENT OF WAGES FROM $10,000 TO $100,000 AND FROM $200,000 RESPECTIVELY, PLUS IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR," HE NOTED.

AND

ΤΟ

"THE LAW SHOULD HAVE GREATER DETERRENT EFFECT ON UNSCRUPULOUS EMPLOYERS AND SHOULD PROVIDE FULLER PROTECTION OF THE STATUTORY RIGHTS OF IMPORTED WORKERS, HE SAID.

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