***************************************************

An employment agency named Glory Stars International Co was fined $10,000 today (September 8) at Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Courts for overcharging a Filipino job seeker $1,000. The prosecution against the breach of the Employment Ordinance was taken out by the Labour Department

The operators of the employment agency, Miss Chan So-ngor and Mr Plumptre Prince Adegoke Roland, were also convicted and each fined $3,000 for operating an employment agency without a licence.

According to the Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations, 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 the first month's salary received by that job-seeker after placement. The maximum penalty for overcharging a job-seeker is $50,000.

Operators of employment agencies are also required to apply for licences from the Employment Agencies Administration of the Labour Department. The maximum penalty for running an unlicensed operation is $50,000

Enquiries or complaints against employment agencies concerning unlicensed operations or overcharging of commission can be made to the Employment Agencies Administration of the Labour Department at 2852 3535 or at 12/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong.

End/Monday, September 8, 2003

NNNN