Pacific Long Distance Telephone Corporation has been fined $10,500 at Eastern Magistracy for failing to pay wages to an employee within seven days of the expiry of the wage period and the termination of employment.

The amount of wages involved was about $34,000. The outstanding wages were paid to the employee before the trial.

According to Section 23 and 25 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon expiry of the last day of the wage period or upon termination of employment shall be paid as soon as practicable, but not later than seven days. Any employer who fails to do so wilfully and without reasonable excuse is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and one year's jail.