Cheung Sha Wan agency pleads guilty to overcharging
AN employment agency in Cheung Sha Wan accused of overcharging nearly 100 Filipino domestic workers pleaded guilty to overcharging one Filipino helper on January 20.
The Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts convicted Ka Ying Employment Agency Limited, the licensee of Ka Ying Employment Agency, and ordered it to pay a fine of $7,000 after the guilty plea.
The court also ordered Ka Ying to refund $2,089 to the job-seeker for the excessive placement fee it collected.
“Unang hearing namin ito pero nagplead guilty na sila,” the Filipino worker told Hong Kong News outside the courtroom.
She was waiting to testify against Ka Ying when the prosecutor came out and informed her about the agency’s guilty plea. Besides the worker, 77 other Filipino women have come forward and accused Ka Ying of overcharging.
Hong Kong law allows employment agencies (EAs) to collect a prescribed commission from job-seekers but this amount should not exceed 10 per cent of their first month’s salary.
The Filipino woman filed the complaint against Ka Ying at the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) in March 2015 for overcharging.
The EAA conducted an investigation and it found sufficient evidence showing that Ka Ying collected an excessive placement fee from her.
Since she was willing to testify against Ka Ying, the Labour Department (LD) decided to pursue the case against the agency.
“We are glad that the FDH concerned was willing to come forward to report her case to the EAA and act as prosecution witnesses,” an LD spokesman said.
“LD will not tolerate any EAs overcharging job-seekers and will act promptly upon receipt of any complaints,” he added.
The spokesman also said that the Commissioner for Labour will consider revoking, or refusing to renew, an EA’s licence upon its conviction. Ka Ying was the second EA convicted of overcharging
this year.
On January 18, the Tsuen Wan Magistrates Courts convicted Marks Domestic Helper Agency Limited for overcharging two job seekers.
The court ordered the agency, which is located in Tsuen Wan, to pay a fine of $30,000 and to refund $4,209 to the two workers. Marks’ license had already been cancelled in April 2015.
Last year, nine EAs were convicted of overcharging.
The convicted agencies were Bagus Employment Agency (located in Central), Satisfactory Employment & Travel Centre Limited (located in Tai Wai), Vicks Maid Consultant Company (located in
Sha Tin), Joyce Agency (located in Kwai Chung), Maidhouse Employment Agency Co Limited (located in Tsuen Wan), Smile Sunshine Employment Limited (located in North Point), Shun Tat Employment Agency Company (located in Causeway Bay), Artellect Limited (located in Tuen Mun) and 3sion Employment Agency (located in Tin Hau).
Those who want to inquire or file a complaint against erring employment agencies can call the EAA at 2852-3535 or visit its office on 12/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road in Central.