Agency loses license for not giving copies of job contract

An employment agency in Taiwai, Shatin that failed to provide a copy of the job contract to employers and the foreign domestic helpers it recruited has been stripped of its license by the Hong Kong Labour Department.

In a press release, the LD said its Employment Agencies Administration revoked the license of Festival City Employment Service Co Ltd for failing to meet standards set out in the Code of Practice for Employment Agencies.

The EEA, the industry watchdog, took action after Festival City Employment did not rectify irregularities detected earlier despite repeated warnings.

A department spokesman reminded agency operators to conduct their business in compliance with the law and the code at all times.

The spokesman said EAA will conduct regular and surprise inspections to agencies and issue warning letters to those found contravening the code, to rectify any irregularities detected.

If an agency still fails to comply despite warnings, the commissioner may consider revoking or refusing to renew the agency’s license on the grounds that the licensee is not fit to operate an agency.

Festival City Employment is the fifth agency to have its license revoked this year. Included among these is Java Maid Recruitment Service in Causeway Bay which lost its license after it was convicted of overcharging a job-seeker.

Three other agencies, namely Sunday Employment Agency in Prince Edward, Chun Hing Agency in Sham Shui Po, and In On Domestic Employment in Kwai Chung, also had their licenses revoked for varying offenses.

Sunday Employment was found to have contravened the code by abetting employers in deducting the fees they paid to the agency from the wages of their domestic workers.

Chun Hing was found in breach of the code for withholding passports from FDHs without reasonable excuse, and In On was prosecuted for failing to draw up service agreements with job-seekers and employers.

Another agency with a Chinese name in Mong Kok had its license renewal refused because its operator was an undischarged bankrupt.

For enquiries or complaints about unlicensed employment agencies that overcharge job-seekers, 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.