Licence of employment agency revoked
2022-08-05
The Labour Department (LD) today (August 5) 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 (the Code) at all times.
The LD has revoked the EA licence of Planet Employment Agency located in Mei Foo. The EA failed to meet the requirements as set out in the Code, including failing to ensure that any information that is made available to employers is consistent with the facts made known to it; failing to provide employers with copies of all documents that they have signed in their dealings with the EA; failing to draw up service agreements with foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) or include all required items in the service agreements drawn up with FDHs; and failing to draw up service agreements with FDH employers or include all required items in the service agreements drawn up with FDH employers, etc. The licensee concerned had appealed to the Administrative Appeals Board but the appeal was dismissed.
Under section 53(1)(c)(iva) of the Employment Ordinance (EO), the Commissioner for Labour (the Commissioner) 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 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 licence, or has not complied with the Code issued under section 62A(1) of the EO," the spokesman said.
The LD has revoked the licences of a total of 11 EAs since 2020, including the above case.
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/Friday, August 5, 2022
