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The licence of an employment agency, Joins Employment Agency, was revoked by the Labour Department (LD) recently after its licensee, JS Employment Limited, was convicted and fined $10,000 for overcharging a job seeker.
"It is an offence under the law for an employment agency to charge a job seeker a commission that is more than 10 per cent of the job seeker's first month's salary for successful job placement," a spokesman for the LD said today (August 15).
"An employment agency that overcharges job seekers may be subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 upon conviction. The Commissioner for Labour will also consider revoking its licence.
"Operators of employment agencies are reminded to conduct their business in compliance with the laws including the Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations at all times. We also encourage job seekers who are suspected of being overcharged by employment agencies to report their cases to the LD. Upon receipt of a complaint, the LD will initiate investigation promptly and prosecution will be taken out if there is sufficient evidence," the spokesman said.
For enquiries or complaints against unlicensed operations or the overcharging of commissions by employment agencies, please call the Employment Agencies Administration of the LD at 2852 3535, or visit its office at 12/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong.
Ends/Friday, August 15, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:25
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