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Satisfactory Employment & Travel Centre Limited (located in Tai Wai) was convicted and fined a total of $8,400 at Shatin Magistrates' Courts on March 2 for overcharging job seekers. The company was also ordered to refund excessive placement fees to the job seekers via the court.
This is the second employment agency that has been convicted of overcharging this year. The other agency is Bagus Employment Agency (located in Central district) and it no longer holds a valid licence for operating an employment agency to provide job-placement services.
In March 2014, the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) of the Labour Department (LD) received complaints against Satisfactory Employment & Travel Centre Limited for overcharging of commissions from job seekers. Investigation revealed that the agency had collected placement fees of an amount higher than the prescribed level from a number of foreign domestic helpers. The licence of Satisfactory Employment & Travel Centre Limited was already cancelled in November 2014.
The LD reminds employment agencies to operate in full compliance with the law. Failure to do so may lead to prosecution and possible revocation of licences.
According to the law, employment agencies are not allowed to collect from job seekers any fees or charges other than the prescribed commission, which is set at 10 per cent of the latter's first month's salary upon successful placement.
For enquiries or complaints about unlicensed operations or overcharging of commissions by employment agencies, please call the EAA at 2852 3535 or visit its office on 12/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong.
Ends/Thursday, March 5, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:09
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