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W & K Employment Agency operated by Wang Ko Consultants Limited was today (June 5) fined $6,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts for overcharging a job seeker. The agency was also ordered to refund excessive placement fees of $4,642 to the job seeker via the court. 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 from a Filipino domestic helper against the employment agency concerned in March in relation overcharging. The investigation revealed that the agency collected excessive placement fees from the complainant after placement.
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 on 12/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong.
Ends/Friday, June 5, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:20
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