PMI CONSULTATION
ASKING: What are the legal consequences if employers do not pay domestic workers (PRT) salaries on time?
ANSWER: If the employer does not pay the domestic worker the salary within seven days of the specified payment date, the employer is required to pay interest on the amount of wages owed to the domestic worker; and face criminal charges with a fine of HK $ 350,000 and a prison sentence of 3 years.
If wages are not paid within one month from the specified payment date, the domestic worker may assume that she has been terminated without notification. In this case, the employer is obliged to pay the domestic worker a salary in exchange for notification, and other payments for termination of employment in accordance with the legal provisions and the terms of the employment agreement. [DDHKNews]
Source: A Practical Handbook for Hong Kong's Department of Foreign Service Guides [p. 11/13]
