The Labour Department has reminded employers to comply with the Minimum Wage Ordinance, following an increase in the statutory minimum wage rate to $32.50 per hour from May 1.
Failure to pay the minimum wage is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $350,000 and to imprisonment for three years.
A department spokesman noted that stringent enforcement actions have been conducted to investigate offences relating to non-compliance with the statutory minimum wage.
If a limited company has committed a wage offence with the consent, connivance or neglect of its director or responsible person, the culpable director or responsible person may also be prosecuted, the department added.
Labour inspectors conducted a total of 7,169 inspections and interviewed 20,750 employees in May and June this year for routine checks and targeted enforcement campaigns, covering various sectors, including catering, retail, estate management, security and cleaning services, elderly homes, laundry and dry cleaning services and local courier services.
No suspected offence cases have been detected so far and the state of law compliance is satisfactory in general.
The department will continue to carry out stringent enforcement actions and monitor the implementation of the statutory minimum wage effectively.
Employees who suspect that their employment rights are being infringed should contact the department's complaint hotline on 2815 2200.
Call 2717 1771 or click here for details.
