50 workers in Hong Kong owed more than HK$7 million as another restaurant closes
Union says workers left with unpaid wages and other claims after Glorious Seafood Restaurant closes permanently
About 50 workers, including five imported staff from mainland China, are seeking to recover more than HK$7 million (US$892,000) in unpaid wages and other payments following another restaurant closing amid a string of shutdowns in Hong Kong’s catering industry, a union has said.
Chiu Kwun-chung, head of the Eating Establishment Employees General Union’s labour rights committee, said the group was notified on Friday morning that Glorious Seafood Restaurant at Cheung Sha Wan Plaza had closed permanently.
Chiu said the closure had affected about 50 employees, who were seeking to recover more than HK$7 million in outstanding wages, payments in lieu of notice, payments for untaken annual leave and severance payments.
The union had helped workers to file claims with authorities, he said.
Chiu said five employees had been imported from the mainland and would return home while waiting for their pay because of the high cost of living in Hong Kong.
He added that restaurant staff were only told about the closure on Thursday night.