XN000022-1979-04-10 — Page 8

- 7 7

-

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 1979

EMPLOYMENT AGENCY OPERATOR FINED FOR OVER CHARGING

******

AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY LICENSEE WAS TODAY (TUESDAY) FINED $500 AT WESTERN MAGISTRACY FOR CHARGING A JOB-SEEKER IN EXCESS OF THE MAXIMUM FEE PRESCRIBED UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.

THE LICENSEE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF CHARGING THE JOB-SEEKER $5 REGISTRATION FEE FOR EMPLOYMENT REGISTRATION IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR.

THE SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER IN CHARGE OF EMPLOYMENT SERVICES DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MRS. SOO MOK SAU-HA, TODAY REMINDED THE PUBLIC, IN PARTICULAR JOB-SEEKERS, OF THE MAXIMUM FEE CHARGEABLE BY EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES,

*FOR JOB-SEEKERS THE PRESCRIBED REGISTRATION FEE IS $3, AND THE AMOUNT OF MAXIMUM COMMISSION IS TEN PER CENT OF THE FIRST MONTH'S SALARY RECEIVED AFTER PLACEMENT IN EMPLOYMENT.

+REGISTRATION FEE CHARGEABLE IS $10 FOR EACH CLASS OF VACANCY REGISTERED, AND $5 FOR RE-REGISTRATION.

+THERE IS, HOWEVER, NO CEILING ON THE AMOUNT OF COMMISSION WHICH COULD BE MUTUALLY AGREED ON BETWEEN THE AGENCY AND THE EMPLOYER, MRS. 500 SAID.

MRS. 500 STRESSED THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT ANY MALPRACTICE OF EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES.

SHE APPEALED TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO FEEL SO AGGRIEVED

TO REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT.

+ALL COMPLAINTS WILL BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND ANY LICENSEE FOUND TO HAVE OVERCHARGED EITHER JOB-SEEKERS OR EMPLOYERS WILL BE PROSECUTED WITHOUT WARNING,+ MRS. SOO ADDED.

REPORT ON MALPRACTICES OF EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES SHOULD BE MADE IN PERSON OR IN WRITING TO THE DEPARTMENT AT NEW RODNEY BLOCK, 99 QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG.

-

-7

18..