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The Labour Department has warned that anyone intending to operate an employment agency must apply for a licence or else they will be in breach of the Employment Ordinance and liable to prosecution.
The warning came after the department successfully prosecuted sole proprietor of the Wu's Personnel Consulting Agency (H.K.) Co, Ms Mandy Wu, for operating the said employment agency without a licence. Ms Wu pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $2,500 at the Shatin Magistrates' Court today (February 24).
"Anyone who intends to operate a business in Hong Kong to obtain employment for another person or to supply personnel to an employer must apply for an employment agency licence and comply with Part XII of the Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations, whether the employment is in or outside Hong Kong," a department spokesman said today.
According to Part XII of the Employment Ordinance, operators must apply for a licence before starting an employment agency business. The licence fee, as stipulated in the Employment Agency Regulations, is $2,000 for a main office and $385 for a branch office. The maximum penalty for unlicensed operation is $50,000.
On the other hand, job-seekers are reminded to ensure that the employment agency is a licensed one when they seek employment through its service, regardless of whether the employment is in or outside Hong Kong.
For enquiries or complaints against employment agencies, please call the Employment Agencies Administration of the Labour Department on 2852 3535 or visit its office at 12th floor, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central.
Ends/Friday, February 24, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:00
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