By Vir B. Lumicao
 |
| Jen's office in Tsuen Wan |
An
employment agency convicted of overcharging in September, was again found
guilty by the Tsuen Wan Court
Jen’s
Employment Agency Ltd, located in Tsuen Wan, was also fined
$26,000 and the Labour Department said it was now in the process of
revoking the agency’s license.
The two helpers, whose nationalities were not disclosed by Labour, filed
complaints of overcharging in
May against Jen’s with
the Employment Agencies Administration, the department’s unit that
regulates agencies.
They said Jen’s
charged them excessive placement fees with employers in Hong Kong. Investigators
found sufficient evidence against the agency and filed the charges.
“We are glad
that the (helpers) concerned were willing to come forward to
report their cases to EAA and act as prosecution witnesses,” a Labour spokesman
said.
He said the
department would not tolerate any employment agencies that overcharge
jobseekers and would act promptly on any complaints received.
“Jobseekers
who suspected themselves of being overcharged by (agencies) should report their
cases to EAA as soon as possible and act as prosecution witness,” he said.
Agencies are
allowed to collect from jobseekers no more than 10% of the helper’s first
monthly salary as commission.
This is
the ninth conviction of a local agency for overcharging, and the
second for Jen’s.
On Sept 1, Jen’s was convicted and fined
$24,000 by the same court for charging a Filipina job applicant nearly 30 times
the allowable commission of $411 at the time.
The
other agencies that were convicted earlier this year are Marks Domestic
Helper Agency Ltd located in Tsuen Wan, Ka Ying Employment Agency in Cheung Sha
Wan, Enoch Employment Agency in Wan Chai, Gold Union Employment Agency in Fanling,
Ursula Advanced Employment Center in Causeway Bay, Tamas Employment Agency
in Tai Wai, and a man who operated an agency without a
license in Fanling.
The Labour Department reminded agencies to comply fully with the law as their failure to do so could lead to prosecution and possible revocation of licenses.
For enquiries or complaints about unlicensed operations or overcharging by agencies, call EAA at 2115 3667 or visit its office on Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.
The Labour Department reminded agencies to comply fully with the law as their failure to do so could lead to prosecution and possible revocation of licenses.
For enquiries or complaints about unlicensed operations or overcharging by agencies, call EAA at 2115 3667 or visit its office on Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.
