Licence of employment agency revoked

     A spokesman for the Labour Department (LD) today (August 7) reminded operators of employment agencies (EAs) to conduct their business in compliance with the law and the Code of Practice for EAs at all times.

     The LD has recently revoked the licence of Familia Employment Agency, an EA located in Tai Po, the licensee of which was earlier convicted of overcharging three job seekers.

     "Under the Employment Ordinance (EO), the Commissioner for Labour may refuse to issue or renew or may revoke a licence of an EA if the person operating or intending to operate an EA has contravened any provision of Part XII of the said Ordinance, such as overcharging job seekers, or if he or she has contravened the Code promulgated under section 62(A)(1) of the EO," the spokesman said.

     This is the fourth case this year involving revocation of or refusal to renew an EA licence. Previously two EAs, namely Tin Wai Employment Company Limited, an EA located in Mong Kok and Tuen Mun, and Good Family Employment Agency Company Limited located in Kennedy Town had their licences revoked respectively for contravening the Code and providing misleading information during the inspections and enquiries of the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) and for contravening the Code by being involved in the financial matters of job seekers, failing to issue payment receipts to Foreign Domestic Helpers (FDHs) and having the management fail to closely supervise all its staff. Another EA named JK Company located in Mong Kok had its licence renewal refused because its licensee had contravened the Code by failing to draw up service agreements with FDHs and their employers.

     For enquiries or complaints about unlicensed operation, overcharging job seekers' commission by EAs and the Code, please call the LD's EAA at 2115 3667, or visit its office at Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.