First fine for MPF breach

The operators of a Sha Tin restaurant yesterday became the first employers to be fined for failing to enrol an employee in the Mandatory Provident Fund.

Union Management Ltd, trading as the Hong Kong Restaurant, pleaded guilty in Kwun Tong Court and was fined $5,000 by Magistrate Chan Yan-tong.

The court heard the company failed to take all practicable steps to ensure that band manager Wong Tat-cheong become a member of a registered MPF scheme on February 26 this year.

That was the day Mr Wong, who organised live music at the restaurant in Wo Che Estate, Sha Tin, complained to the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA). Police issued a summons on April 20.

Yesterday's case was the first brought under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance, which came into effect on December 1.

An MPFA spokeswoman said there were 15 similar cases pending. 'Some are definitely for non-enrolment,' she said.