A manager of Wealthy Time Investment, trading as Fuk Wan Seafood Hotpot Restaurant, has been sentenced to four months' jail, suspended for three years, and fined $20,000 for wage offences.

Kowloon City Magistracy today also ordered the defendant to clear the outstanding wages through the court immediately.

Four restaurant employees were owed wages totalling $57,000 upon termination of employment last August and September.

One employee obtained an award from the Labour Tribunal in favour of his wage claim but the company did not comply. The other three employees also lodged claims with the tribunal and it was not until March they were paid their outstanding wages.

Welcoming the judgment, the Labour Department said this is the third case this year where a jail sentence has been imposed on an employer or boss for wage offences. It shows the courts are attaching more importance to such offences, it said, adding employers should not defy the law.

Employees who are owed wages should call the department's complaint hotline, 2815 2200.