TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1987
10
EMPLOYMENT AGENCY FINED FOR OVERCHARGING
*****
AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY OPERATOR WAS FINED MORE THAN $15 000 IN WESTERN MAGISTRACY RECENTLY FOR OVERCHARGING A JOB-SEEKER.
THE FINE INCLUDED $7 500 FOR OVERCHARGING OF COMMISSION, $5 000 FOR OVERCHARGING OF FEES AND $2 500 COURT COSTS. THE DEFENDANT WAS ALSO ORDERED TO PAY $702 TO THE JOB-SEEKER AS COMPENSATION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID THAT UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY REGULATIONS, THE FEES CHARGEABLE BY AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY TO A JOB-SEEKER ON FIRST REGISTRATION, OR SUBSEQUENT RENEWALS, ARE LIMITED TO $3 PER REGISTRATION.
THE COMMISSION CHARGEABLE TO A JOB-SEEKER ON SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENT IS NOT TO EXCEED TEN PER CENT OF HIS FIRST MONTH'S SALARY.
THE REGULATIONS ALSO LIMIT THE FEES CHARGEABLE BY AN AGENCY TO AN EMPLOYER TO $10 FOR EACH TYPE OF VACANCY REGISTERED ON FIRST REGISTRATION AND $5 ON RENEWAL OF SUCH REGISTRATION.
HOWEVER, THE COMMISSION CHARGEABLE BY AN AGENCY TO AN EMPLOYER ON SUCCESSFULLY FINDING AN EMPLOYEE FOR HIM IS A MATTER OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES.
+OTHER THAN THE PRESCRIBED FEES AND COMMISSIONS, THE LICENSEE OF AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY IS NOT ALLOWED TO RECEIVE ANY REWARD, PAYMENT OR ADVANTAGE IN CONNECTION WITH THE PLACEMENT OF A JOB-SEEKER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE ALSO REMINDED OPERATORS OF EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES TO DISPLAY THE FEE SCHEDULES AND LICENCE IN THE PLACE OF BUSINESS, TO SUBMIT QUARTERLY RETURNS TO THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND TO MAINTAIN FOR INSPECTION BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR REGISTERS BEARING PARTICULARS OF EVERY PERSON WHO REGISTERS FOR EMPLOYMENT OR PROCUREMENT OF EMPLOYEES.
ENQUIRIES ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE OPERATION OF EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES MAY BE MADE TO THE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ON 5-8523535 OR 5-8523537.
/11