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The licensee of Shun Tat Employment Agency Company (Shun Tat) (located in Causeway Bay) was convicted and fined $3,000 at Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (September 1) for overcharging a job seeker. The company was also ordered to refund excessive placement fees to the job seeker via the court.
In November 2014, the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) of the Labour Department (LD) received a complaint against Shun Tat for the overcharging of commission from a job seeker. Investigation revealed sufficient evidence that Shun Tat had collected excessive placement fees from a foreign domestic helper (FDH) and thus prosecution was taken out against the agency.
According to the law, employment agencies (EAs) are not allowed to collect from job seekers any fees or charge other than the prescribed commission, which is set at 10 per cent of the latter's first month's salary upon successful placement.
"We are glad that the FDH concerned was willing to come forward to report her case to the EAA and act as prosecution witness," a spokesman for the LD said. "The LD will not tolerate any EAs overcharging job seekers and will act promptly upon receipt of any complaints. Any job seekers who suspect they have been overcharged by EAs should report their cases to the EAA as soon as possible and act as prosecution witnesses."
Shun Tat is the seventh EA that has been convicted of overcharging this year. The other six are 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 (located in North Point).
The LD reminds EAs to operate in full compliance with the law. Failure to do so may lead to prosecution and possible revocation of licences.
For enquiries or complaints about unlicensed operations or overcharging of commissions by EAs, please call the EAA at 2852 3535 or visit its office on 12/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong.
Ends/Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:29
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