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The licensee of Ma Wan Employment Agency was fined a total of $6,000 today (June 25) at the Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Courts for overcharging a job seeker. The prosecution was launched by the Labour Department.
A spokesman for the department reminded employment agencies to comply with the law or face prosecution and possible revocation of licences.
The Employment Agencies Administration received a complaint of overcharging from a Filipino domestic helper against the employment agency concerned in March 2009. The investigation revealed that the said agency collected excessive placement fees from the complainant.
According to Part XII of the Employment Ordinance, 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 his first month's salary after a successful placement. The maximum penalty for overcharging a job seeker is $50,000.
Under the Employment Ordinance, the Commissioner for Labour may refuse to issue or renew, or may revoke, a licence if the employment agency operator has contravened any provision of Part XII of the Ordinance or the Employment Agency Regulations, or if the operator has been convicted of an offence involving membership of a triad society, fraud, dishonesty or extortion, or if for any other reason he is not considered a fit and proper person to operate an employment agency.
For inquiries or complaints against unlicensed operations or overcharging of commissions by employment agencies, please call the Employment Agencies Administration at 2852 3535 or visit its office at 12/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong.
Ends/Thursday, June 25, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:46
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