Licence of employment agency revoked
2017-09-29
A spokesman for the Labour Department (LD) today (September 29) reminded operators of employment agencies (EAs) to conduct their business in compliance with the law and the Code of Practice for EAs (the Code) at all times.
The LD has recently revoked the licence of an EA, named Sunday Employment Agency, located in Prince Edward. The licensee of the EA was found to be luring employers of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) to recover their fees paid by deducting part of wages from FDHs, thus contravening the Code.
The Spokesman said that the Code sets out the salient legislative requirements which EA operators must observe in operating their business, as well as the minimum standards which the Commissioner for Labour expects of EA licensees. The Employment Agency Administration (EAA) will conduct regular and surprise inspections of EAs and issue warning letters to EAs on contraventions of the Code for rectification of 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 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 second revocation of an EA licence this year. Another EA named Java Maid Recruitment Service (located in Causeway Bay) also had its licence revoked after the licensee was convicted of overcharging a job-seeker.
For enquiries or complaints about unlicensed operation, overcharging job-seekers' commission by EAs or concerning 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.
