DSE Graduate Alleges Wage Theft at Mong Kok Snack Shop
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A Hong Kong student who recently completed the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) examination has accused a Mong Kok snack shop of illegally deducting HK$579 from her salary, claiming the money was taken due to alleged discrepancies in the cash register. The student, who used a pseudonym Ms. Chan, told Sing Tao Reporters that this was her first part-time job, working as a cashier for an hourly wage of HK$50. The deduction exceeded her daily wage of HK$475 for a 9.5-hour shift, which she described as unreasonable and shocking. After she posted about her experience on Threads, the story went viral with over 500,000 views, and the shop owner eventually returned the deducted money while maintaining that the allegations were not true.
Key Points
- The student was told the cash drawer originally contained HK$9,000 but was short by HK$579, which she was required to pay back .
- Five other former part-time employees, aged between 17 and 19, reported similar experiences of having money deducted from their wages by the same shop owner .
- One employee requested to review CCTV footage to verify the cash discrepancy but was reportedly told the footage was unhelpful .
- According to solicitor Andrew Tso, the law caps salary deductions at HK$300 or one-quarter of monthly wages, whichever is lower .
- Violations of the Employment Ordinance regarding illegal wage deductions carry a maximum penalty of HK$100,000 fine and one year imprisonment .
Why It Matters
This case highlights the vulnerability of young workers, particularly students taking on their first jobs, to potential wage exploitation in Hong Kong's part-time job market. The incident underscores the importance of educating young employees about their legal rights under the Employment Ordinance and the available remedies when employers violate these protections.
This case highlights the vulnerability of young workers, particularly students taking on their first jobs, to potential wage exploitation in Hong Kong's part-time job market. The incident underscores the importance of educating young employees about their legal rights under the Employment Ordinance and the available remedies when employers violate these protections.