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Anyone who intends to operate an employment agency must apply for a licence from the Labour Department, or else he will breach the law and be liable to prosecution.

The department launched a successful prosecution recently over the unlicensed operation of an employment agency. The defendant was fined $4,000.

"Anyone who intends to operate a business in Hong Kong to obtain employment for another person or to supply personnel to an employer must apply for an employment agency licence and comply with Part XII of the Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations, whether the employment would be in or outside Hong Kong," a spokesman for the department said.

According to the Employment Ordinance, operators must apply for a licence at least one month before starting the business. The licence fee is $2,000 for a main office and $385 for a branch office. The maximum penalty for unlicensed operation is $50,000.

For enquiries or complaints against unlicensed employment agencies, please call the Employment Agencies Administration of the Labour Department on 2852 3535 or visit its office at 12/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central.

Ends/Sunday, September 5, 2004

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