Licence of employment agency revoked

     A spokesman for the Labour Department (LD) today (October 3) reminded operators of employment agencies (EAs) to conduct their business in compliance with the law and the requirements of the Code of Practice for EAs at all times.
 
     The LD has revoked the EA licence of Sennex Trade Company located in Tsuen Wan. The EA failed to meet the requirement of drawing up service agreements with employers and job seekers as set out in the Code. The licensee concerned had appealed to the Administrative Appeals Board but the appeal was dismissed.
 
     Under section 53(1)(c)(iva) and section 53(1)(c)(v) of the Employment Ordinance (EO), the Commissioner for Labour may revoke the licence of an EA if he is satisfied that the licensee concerned has not complied with the Code, or the licensee concerned is not a fit and proper person to operate an EA.
 
     "The Code sets out the salient legal requirements that EA operators must observe in operating their business, as well as the minimum standards which the Commissioner expects from EAs. The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2018, which came into effect on February 9, 2018, stipulates that the Commissioner may refuse to issue or renew a licence, or may revoke a licence, if he is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee of an EA, or a related person of or an individual employed by the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee has contravened any provision of Part XII or any regulation made under section 62 of the EO, such as overcharging job seekers, operating an EA without a license, or has not complied with the Code issued under section 62A(1) of the EO," the spokesman added.
      
     This is the fourth revocation of an EA licence in 2019. In 2018, there were eight cases of revocation/refusal of renewal of EA licences.
      
     For enquiries about matters related to EAs or complaints about their malpractices, please call the Employment Agencies Administration of the LD at 2115 3667, or visit its office at Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.