Licences of employment agencies revoked
2022-05-31
A spokesman for the Labour Department (LD) today (May 31) 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 (CoP) at all times.
The LD has revoked the EA licences of Manco Employment Agency located in Mong Kok and Many Maids Employment Agency located in Chai Wan. The licence of Manco Employment Agency was revoked as its licensee was earlier convicted of overcharging of commission from a foreign domestic helper. Since the convicted person was also the licensee of Many Maids Employment Agency, the licence of Many Maids Employment Agency was revoked as well. The licensee concerned had appealed to the Administrative Appeals Board against the LD's decisions to revoke the licences of his two EAs but the appeal was dismissed.
Under section 53(1)(c)(iv) of the Employment Ordinance (EO), the Commissioner for Labour may revoke the licence of an EA if he is satisfied on reasonable grounds that 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.
"The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2018, which came into effect on February 9, 2018, stipulates that the Commissioner for Labour 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 of commission or operating an EA without a licence, or has not complied with the CoP issued under section 62A(1) of the EO," a spokesman for the LD said.
The LD has revoked the licences of a total of 10 EAs since 2020, including the above.
For enquiries about matters related to EAs or complaints about alleged 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.
Ends/Tuesday, May 31, 2022
