Licence of employment agency revoked
​A spokesman for the Labour Department (LD) today (December 4) 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 MVC International Manpower Services located in Hung Hom. The EA failed to meet the requirements as set out in the Code, including failing to draw up service agreements with foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) and with employers; failing to include all required items in the receipt of payments issued to employers; failing to provide FDHs and employers with copies of all documents that they had signed; failing to arrange for FDHs and employers to sign to acknowledge receipt of publications, sample forms and signed standard employment contracts; and failing to arrange for FDHs and employers to confirm in writing that they have been fully briefed about their rights and obligations.
Under section 53(1)(c)(iva) 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.
"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 or operating an EA without a license, or has not complied with the Code issued under section 62A(1) of the EO," the spokesman said.
This is the eighth revocation of or refusal to renew an EA licence in 2019. In 2018, there were eight cases of revocation of or refusal to renew 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.