Restaurant workers seek $2m in wages

More than 200 workers from a restaurant chain are seeking more than $2 million in wages and compensation through the Labour Tribunal and Labour Department.

Sixty-two new cases were filed with the Labour Tribunal yesterday in addition to 126 complaints relating to the Farm House Restaurant reported to the Labour Department since September.

A total of 271 full-time and part-time workers are involved.

The Hong Kong Confederation is helping the claimants.

Chan Hing-to, chairman of the restaurant chain which has 13 outlets across the territory, said he was trying his best to cover payments.

Speaking through his assistant, he said he had no plans to close any branch or apply for liquidation yet.

Mr Chan is also appealing for buyers for about 10,000 children's books which were left behind after the collapse of his group's two children's bookstores last year.

A Labour Department spokeswoman said: 'According to company law, the Labour Tribunal may order the restaurant to liquidate so that the workers are eligible for their claims from the insolvency fund.'