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The licensee of Gold Union Employment Agency (Gold Union) (located in Fanling) was convicted and fined $9,000 at Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (June 23) for overcharging a job seeker. The court instructed the company to refund excessive placement fees to the job-seeker immediately and the company complied.
In December 2015, a foreign domestic helper (FDH) complained to the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) of the Labour Department (LD) about her being overcharged by Gold Union. Investigation revealed sufficient evidence that the agency had collected excessive placement fees from the FDH and thus the LD took out prosecution procedures against the agency. According to the law, employment agencies (EAs) are not allowed to collect from job seekers any fees or charges other than the prescribed commission, with the maximum 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 suspected themselves of being overcharged by EAs should report their cases to the EAA as soon as possible and act as prosecution witness."
This is the fourth conviction under Part XII of the Employment Ordinance this year. Three other EAs, namely Marks Domestic Helper Agency Limited (located in Tsuen Wan), Ka Ying Employment Agency (located in Cheung Sha Wan) and Enoch Employment Agency (located in Wan Chai) had been convicted of overcharging or unlicensed operation.
The LD reminds EAs to operate in full compliance with the law at all times. 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 2115 3667 or visit its office on Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.
Ends/Thursday, June 23, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:19
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