Labour Shuts Down Employment Agency
THE Labour Department (LD) has shut down an employment agency (EA) for violating rules on the recruitment of foreign domestic helpers.
The department said it refused to renew the licence of Tamas Employment Agency (located in Tai Wai) after it conducted an investigation.
“After considering all facts collected during investigation, including Tamas having acted against the LD’s repeated advice not to assist in the collection of placement fees from foreign domestic helpers for overseas agents, the commissioner for Labour…decided to refuse to renew Tamas’ licence on grounds that the licensee was considered not a fit and proper person for operating an EA,” the LD said in a statement.
It said the operator of the agency appealed to the Administrative Appeals Board (AAB) but the Commissioner’s decision was upheld by the AAB.
“The LD takes all complaints against illegal or improper practices of EAs seriously. Under the Employment Ordinance, the Commissioner may refuse to issue or renew, or may revoke a licence of an EA if the EA operator has committed any offence under the Ordinance, or is considered not a fit and proper person to operate an EA,” the LD spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the LD reminded employment agencies that they are not allowed to collect any fees other than the prescribed commission under the law, which is set at 10 per cent of the latter’s first month’s salary upon successful placement.
“Failure to do so may lead to prosecution and possible revocation, or refusal of renewal, of licences,” it said.
The LD said the licensee of 3sion Employment Agency (located in Tin Hau) was convicted and fined $6,000 at Eastern Magistrates’ Courts recently for overcharging a job-seeker.
The court also ordered the Company to refund excessive placement fees of $7,389 to the job-seeker, it added.
In July 2015, the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) of the LD received a complaint against 3sion for overcharging of commission from a job-seeker.
The court also ordered the Company to refund excessive placement fees of $7,389 to the job-seeker, it added.
In July 2015, the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) of the LD received a complaint against 3sion for overcharging of commission from a job-seeker, it added.
The LD said an investigation showed that there was sufficient evidence that 3sion had collected excessive placement fees from a foreign domestic helper (FDH) “and thus prosecution was taken out against the agency.”
It said 3sion is the ninth EA convicted of overcharging this year. Its licence expired in November 2015 and the Commissioner will consider refusing to renew its licence.
The other eight EAs that were convicted of overcharging this year include Bagus Employment Agency (located in Central), Satisfactory Employment & Travel Centre Limited (located in Tai Wai), Vicks Maid Consultant Company (located in Sha Tin), Joyce Agency (located in Kwai Chung), Maidhouse Employment Agency Co Limited (located in Tsuen Wan), and Smile
Sunshine Employment Limited.