Licence of employment agency revoked
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The LD recently revoked the licence of an EA, named Festival City Employment Service Co Limited (located in Tai Wai), which failed to meet the standards set out in the Code, such as providing a copy of the employment contract to the foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) and their employers. Despite repeated warnings given by the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) of the LD, the EA was unable to rectify the irregularities detected.
The spokesman said that the Code sets out the salient legislative requirements that EA operators must observe in operating their business, as well as the minimum standards which the Commissioner for Labour expects of EA licensees. The EAA will conduct regular and surprise inspections to EAs and issue warning letters to EAs for contraventions of the Code, so as to rectify any irregularities detected. If an EA fails to comply with the Code despite warnings, the commissioner may consider revoking or refusing to renew the EA's licence on the grounds that the licensee concerned is not a fit and proper person to operate an EA under section 53(1)(c)(v) of the Employment Ordinance.
This is the sixth revocation of/refusal to renew an EA licence this year. Previously an EA named Java Maid Recruitment Service (located in Causeway Bay) had its licence revoked after the licensee was convicted of overcharging a job-seeker. A further three EAs, namely Sunday Employment Agency (located in Prince Edward), Chun Hing Agency (located in Sham Shui Po), and In On Domestic Employment (located in Kwai Chung), also had their licences revoked, respectively for contravening the Code by luring employers of FDHs to recover their paid fees by deducting some of the wages from FDHs, withholding passports from FDHs without reasonable excuse, and failing to draw up service agreements with job-seekers and employers, and therefore the licensees were considered not fit and proper to operate an EA. Another EA (only the Chinese name is available, please refer to the Chinese version of the press release) (located in Mong Kok) also had its licence renewal refused because its nominated operator was an undischarged bankrupt.
For enquiries or complaints about unlicensed operation, overcharging job-seekers commission by EAs and the Code, please call the EAA of the 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/Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:35
Issued at HKT 15:35
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