In a recent court ruling, an employment agency located in Sheung Wan has been convicted and fined $16,000 for attempting to overcharge a foreign domestic helper (FDH). The Eastern Magistrates' Courts found the agency and its associate guilty of breaching the Employment Ordinance and the Crimes Ordinance.
The investigation began in September 2022 when the Labour Department (LD) received a complaint from an FDH regarding Saiko Hong, the Sheung Wan-based agency. The FDH alleged that the agency had imposed excessive fees beyond the legal limit. Subsequently, the LD conducted a thorough investigation and gathered sufficient evidence to support the prosecution of both the licensee and the associate.
Under the Employment Ordinance, it is unlawful for an employment agency licensee, their associates, or anyone acting on their behalf to charge fees exceeding the stipulated commission from job seekers. The prescribed fee should not exceed 10 percent of the job seeker's first month's salary upon successful employment.
The LD has issued a reminder to all employment agencies to strictly adhere to the legal framework and the established Code of Practice for Employment Agencies. Failure to comply may result in legal action and the potential revocation of the agency's license. The most severe penalties for operating an employment agency without a license or overcharging job seekers include a substantial fine of $350,000 and a possible three-year prison sentence.
香港上環一家就業中介被判試圖向外籍家庭傭工多收費用
最近，一家位於上環的就業中介在法庭判決中被判犯有試圖向外籍家庭傭工多收費用的罪名，並被罰款16,000元。東區裁判法院認定該中介及其合夥人違反了《就業條例》和《刑事條例》。
此案的調查始於2022年9月，當時勞工處（LD）接獲一名外籍家庭傭工對位於上環的Saiko Hong中介提出的投訴。該傭工聲稱該中介向她收取了超過法定限額的佣金。隨後，勞工處進行了全面調查，收集了足夠的證據支持對許可證持有人和合夥人的起訴。
根據《就業條例》，就業中介許可證持有人、其合夥人或任何代表他們行事的人，不得從求職者那裡收取超過指定佣金的費用。根據規定，此費用不得超過求職者首個月工資的10%。
勞工處提醒所有就業中介嚴格遵守法律框架和已建立的就業中介實踐守則。違反規定可能導致法律訴訟和可能撤銷該中介的許可證。經營未經許可的就業中介或向求職者多收費用的最嚴重懲罰包括高額罰款350,000元和可能的三年監禁。
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