Employment agency convicted of overcharging FDH

Nan Fung Centre, Tsuen Wan (Photo: Google Maps)

Guilty!

An employment agency in Tsuen Wan was convicted of overcharging a foreign domestic worker, the Labour Department (LD) said.

In a statement, the LD said My Friends Service Limited was found guilty at the West Kowloon Magistrates Courts on July 25 and ordered to pay a fine of $8,000.

“According to the law, EAs (employment agencies) are not allowed to collect from job seekers any fees or charges other than the prescribed commission, which is set at no more than 10 per cent of the latter’s first month’s salary upon successful placement,” the LD said.

It said the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) received a complaint in March 2017 from a foreign domestic worker that My Friends made her pay an “an excessive amount of commission.”

“With the FDH concerned agreeing to assist in the investigation, which revealed sufficient evidence, LD took out prosecution against the agency,” the department said.

The LD said My Friend was the third employment agency that was convicted of overcharging foreign domestic workers this year. Two other EAs— Quality Consultants Agency (located in Tsim Sha Tsui) and Familia Employment Agency (located in Tai Po)—were also convicted earlier.

The department reminded EAs to operate in full compliance with the law as well as the Code of Practice for Employment Agencies at all times.

“Failure to do so may lead to prosecution and possible revocation of licences,” the LD said.

It pointed out that the Employment Ordinance, which was amended on February 9, raised the penalty for the offence of overcharging job-seekers to a maximum fine of $350,000 and imprisonment of three years.

For enquiries or complaints about unlicensed agency operation or overcharging, please call the EAA 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.