MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1994
ADVICE ON USING EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES
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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) ADVISED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS, TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES WHEN USING SERVICES OF EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES TO SAFEGUARD THEIR OWN INTERESTS.
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THE ADVICE WAS GIVEN FOLLOWING A RECENT NEWSPAPER REPORT THAT A FILIPINO MAID HAD PAID $6,000 DEPOSIT TO AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY IN ATTEMPT TO SEEK A NEW EMPLOYER.
IT WAS ALLEGED THAT THE AGENCY REFUSED TO REFUND THE MONEY AFTER FAILING TO FIND AN EMPLOYER FOR THE MAID.
SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER MRS CLARE SIU SAID THAT UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY REGULATIONS, AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY WAS ONLY ALLOWED TO CHARGE A JOB APPLICANT A MAXIMUM COMMISSION OF NOT MORE THAN 10 PER CENT OF HIS OR HER FIRST MONTH'S SALARY UPON SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENT.
"CHARGING OF ANY OTHER FEE, SUCH AS REGISTRATION FEE, IS PROHIBITED,' SHE ADDED.
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MRS SIU ALSO ADVISED ALL JOB SEEKERS TO CHECK THE LICENCES OF EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES BEFORE SEEKING THEIR SERVICES.
"THEY SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY IS PROPERLY LICENSED AS EVERY AGENCY IN HONG KONG MUST HOLD A VALID LICENCE ISSUED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
"A REGISTERED AGENCY SHOULD DISPLAY ITS LICENCE IN A CONSPICUOUS POSITION AT THE PLACE OF BUSINESS WHICH SPECIFIES THE OPERATOR'S NAME, THE NAME OF THE AGENCY, ITS ADDRESS AND THE DATE OF EXPIRY, SHE SAID.
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ΤΟ SAFEGUARD THEIR
INTERESTS, MRS SIU SAID JOB
APPLICANTS
SHOULD DEMAND FOR A RECEIPT WHEN MAKING ANY PAYMENT TO AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY.
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THE RECEIPT SHOULD BEAR THE NAME OF THE AGENCY, WITH THE RESPONSIBLE PERSON'S SIGNATURE AND COMPANY CHOP. IT SHOULD ALSO STATE THE PURPOSE OF PAYMENT, THE AMOUNT AND CURRENCY PAID, THE NAME OF PAYEE AND THE DATE OF ISSUE, SHE SAID.
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SHE DISCLOSED THAT UP TO THE END OF LAST MONTH, THERE WERE 1,102 EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES REGISTERED WITH THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES ADMINISTRATION (EAA) AND 453 OF THEM DEALT WITH FOREIGN DOMESTIC
HELPERS.
1993
"OUR OFFICERS MADE 942 INSPECTIONS TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES IN AND ANOTHER 349 IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR TO MAKE SURE REGISTERED AGENCIES ARE BEING OPERATED LAWFULLY, SHE SAID.
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IN A BID TO STRENGTHEN ADVICE FOR FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS SEEKING JOBS IN THE TERRITORY, EAA HAS PRODUCED A SIMPLE AND CONCISE ADVISORY HANDOUT ΤΟ HELP THEM PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS WHEN USING PRIVATE PLACEMENT SERVICES OFFERED BY EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES.
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