Licence of employment agency revoked
2018-05-02
A spokesman for the Labour Department (LD) today (May 2) reminded operators of employment agencies (EAs) to conduct their business in compliance with the law and the Code of Practice (the Code) for EAs at all times.
The LD recently revoked the licence of an EA, named Tin Wai Employment Company Limited (located in Mong Kok and Tuen Mun), which provided misleading information during the inspections and enquiries of the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) of the LD and failed to meet the standards set out in the Code. The Commissioner for Labour was satisfied that the licensee concerned was not a fit and proper person to operate an EA and revoked the licence on the grounds under section 53(1)(c)(v) of the Employment Ordinance.
The spokesman said, "The Code sets out the salient legislative requirements that EA operators must observe in operating their business, as well as the minimum standards which the commissioner expects of EAs. The EAA conducts regular and surprise inspections of EAs and issues warning letters to EAs for contraventions of the Code, so as to rectify any irregularities detected.
"According to the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 (the Ordinance) that came into effect on February 9, sections 53(1)(c)(iva), 53(1)(d)(iii) and 53(1)(e)(ii) further empower the commissioner to refuse to issue or renew a licence, or to revoke a licence, if the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee, or a related person of or an individual employed by the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee, has not complied with a code of practice issued under section 62A(1) of the Ordinance."
This is the second revocation of/refusal to renew an EA licence this year. Previously an EA named JK Company (located in Mong Kok) had its licence renewal refused because its licensee contravened the Code by failing to draw up service agreements with foreign domestic helpers and their employers, therefore the licensee was considered not fit and proper to operate an EA.
For enquiries or complaints about unlicensed operation, overcharging job-seekers' commission by EAs and the Code, please call the EAA at 2115 3667, or visit its office at Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.
