Joint operation to combat illegal activities of employment agencies
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     The Labour Department (LD) conducted a joint operation with the Police and the Immigration Department (ImmD) today (November 17) to inspect three employment agencies (EAs) located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Wanchai and Kennedy Town and investigate any illegal EA activities, including the referral of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) to work illegally outside Hong Kong and the overcharging of placement fees.

     A Government spokesman said, "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is greatly concerned about the illegal activities of unscrupulous EAs, for example, referring FDHs to work outside Hong Kong with a fake vacancy, or the actual job descriptions are different from the information when making a job referral, or the FDHs are being charged an excessive commission for job placement. The HKSAR Government is committed to safeguarding the rights and benefits of FDHs and will not tolerate any form of exploitation of FDHs."

     The LD has all along been taking stringent enforcement actions to regulate EAs under the Employment Ordinance, including the requirement to charge job seekers no more than 10 per cent of the job-seekers' first month's salary. The LD will take follow up actions in respect of the overcharging offences upon receipt of complaints from the FDHs or referrals by the Consulates-General in Hong Kong. At the same time, the cases will also be referred to the Police and ImmD for investigation in respect of the suspected fraud and deception, and other illegal activities. The LD reminds EAs to operate in full compliance with all laws of Hong Kong at all times. Failure to do so may lead to prosecution and possible revocation of licences.

     The HKSAR Government appeals to the FDHs suspected of being exploited by EAs to file reports. The relevant law enforcement agencies will take all reported cases seriously. For enquiries or complaints about unlicensed operations or on overcharging job seekers' commission by EAs, please call the Employment Agencies Administration of LD at 2115 3667, or visit its office at unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.

Ends/Friday, November 17, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:48

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