The Government takes a serious view of employers' non-payment of wages, Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao says, adding existing registration and disqualifying mechanisms together with stepped-up enforcement can help tackle the issue.

Replying to lawmaker Tam Yiu-chung's query in the Legislative Council, Dr Liao noted the Labour Department has strengthened enforcement, and last year saw convictions for 115 summonses on wage offences relating to the construction industry. That represented a 505% increase over the 19 summonses in 2002.

She said so far 103 summonses were recorded for the first 11 months of this year, and regulatory action has been taken against two contractors. They have been temporarily disqualified from bidding for public works contracts.

Dr Liao stressed the existing Employment Ordinance, the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance, the voluntary sub-contractor registration scheme and disqualifying mechanisms can help settle certain wage disputes between contractors and workers, and combat employment of illegal workers at construction sites.

Coupled with stepped-up enforcement, the problem of non-payment of wages in the construction industry can be tackled, she added.