Employer Skipped 15 MPF Payments — and Pocketed the Employee’s Share: David’s Story

Office worker David long knew his employer was skipping MPF contributions but stayed silent to keep his job. After resigning, he checked: the ex-employer had made only two token payments, defaulting on 15 periods — including the 5% deducted from David’s own wages, over HK$20,000 in total. His ordeal exposes three enforcement gaps.

What David faced

Three system gaps

1. Needing the boss’s signature to view your own account: the money is the employee’s — being unable to check it is absurd.
2. No early warning from the trustee: 15 missed periods with no detection, no MPFA notification — a breach of statutory duty the MPFA ignored.
3. DIY recovery: the MPFA only assists with civil proceedings; workers must file themselves, on two tracks (MPF vs wage arrears).

David has recovered part of the arrears; about HK$5,000 over four periods remains outstanding.

Ten years into the MPF, contribution defaults remain rampant. Check your account regularly — don’t wait until resignation; complain to the MPFA at the first sign of trouble. Compare MPF funds’ fees and returns at MPF fund comparison.