A director of High Merit Limited, trading as New Fuk Wan Seafood Hotpot Restaurant, was sentenced at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts to two months' jail, suspended for two years, for wage offences.

This is the fourth case this year that an employer or responsible person of a limited company has been handed a jail sentence for committing wage offences.

The employee in the case was a restaurant warehouse worker. For the months of December 2007 and January 2008, the worker received only half of the salaries owed for the wage period.

The remaining salaries were paid more than seven days after the last day of the wage period.

According to Section 23 of the Employment Ordinance, wages due upon expiry of the last day of the wage period must be paid as soon as practicable, but not later than seven days.

Any employer who fails to do so without reasonable excuse is liable to a maximum fine of $350,000 and three years in prison.

Offenders are also liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum penalty of a fine of $350,000 and three years in prison.