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Operators of employment agencies are reminded to conduct their business in compliance with the Employment Ordinance (EO) and the Employment Agency Regulations (EAR), or face prosecution and possibly have their licences revoked.
The employment agency licence of W & K Employment Agency, operated by Wang Ko Consultants Limited, was revoked by the Labour Department after the company was convicted and fined $6,000 for overcharging a job seeker. This is an offence under the Employment Ordinance.
"Under the ordinance, the Commissioner for Labour may refuse to issue or renew, or may revoke a licence if the employment agency operator has contravened any provision of Part XII of the Ordinance or the EAR, or has been convicted of an offence involving membership of a triad society, fraud, dishonesty or extortion, or for any other reason, is not a fit and proper person to operate an employment agency," a spokesman for the department said.
According to Part XII of the EO and the EAR, the operator of an employment agency is not allowed to charge any reward, payment or other advantage in respect of expenses from a job seeker directly or indirectly in connection with having obtained, obtaining or seeking to obtain employment for him, except a commission of not more than 10% of his first month's salary after a successful placement. The maximum penalty for overcharging a job seeker is $50,000.
Operators of employment agencies have to apply for licences from the Employment Agencies Administration of the Labour Department. Unlicensed operation of an employment agency will be subject to a maximum penalty of $50,000.
For inquiries or complaints against unlicensed operations or overcharging of commissions by employment agencies, please call the Employment Agencies Administration at 2852 3535 or visit its office at 12/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong.
Ends/Saturday, August 29, 2009
Issued at HKT 14:01
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