HK Revokes Employment Agency’s License

The Labour Department has revoked the license of an employment agency it found to have been “getting involved in the financial affairs of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs)” and withholding their passports.

In a statement, LD identified the agency as Perfect World Employment Services Co located in Tai Po.

It said the company failed to meet the requirements set out in the Code  of Practice for Employment Agencies.

 Perfect World is the second employment agency to have had its license revoked so far this year.  Last year, there were eight cases of revocation or refusal of renewal of EA licences.

Last May 28, the LD announced it has revoked the license of Fardiansyah International Limited, located in Yau Ma Tei, for failure “to meet the standards set out in the Code in various aspects.”

These included “having its management fail to closely supervise their staff in relation to the provision of job-placement services, failing to draw up service agreements with foreign domestic helpers (FDHs), failing to send a copy of the completed standard employment contract (SEC) to FDHs as soon as practicable, failing to return the passport directly to the job seeker without delay upon obtaining the employment or relevant visa for the job seeker concerned, and failing to provide FDHs with a copy of the sample SEC in their mother language.”

A spokesman for the Labour Department (LD) reminded operators of employment agencies (EAs) to conduct their business in compliance with the law and the requirements of the Code  at all times. Under  the Employment Ordinance (EO), the Commissioner for Labour may revoke the licence of an agency 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 minimum 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 of EO or any regulation made under section 62 of EO, such as overcharging job seekers or unlicensed operation, or has not complied with the Code issued under section 62A(1) of EO,” the spokesman added.

For inquiries about matters related to EAs or complaints about their 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.

Source: www.sunwebhk.com