XN000022-1985-01-21 — Page 6

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1985

5

JOB AGENCIES REMINDED ABOUT LAWS

*****

EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES MUST COMPLY WITH STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

HE POINTED OUT THAT 11 EMPLOYMENT AGENCY OPERATORS HAD BEEN FINED LAST YEAR FOR OFFENCES UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY REGULATIONS.

THE OFFENCES INCLUDED OPERATING AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY WITHOUT A VALID LICENCE, CHARGING JOB-SEEKERS MORE THAN THE PRESCRIBED FEE AND COMMISSION, FAILING TO SUBMIT QUARTERLY RETURNS WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME AND FAILING TO MAINTAIN THE PRESCRIBED REGISTERS.

UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY IS DEFINED AS AN ESTABLISHMENT WHICH AIMS AT OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT FOR ANOTHER PERSON OR SUPPLYING PERSONNEL TO AN EMPLOYER, BOTH WITHIN OR OUTSIDE HONG KONG, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THE EMPLOYMENT IS OF PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME NATURE.

THE LICENCE FEE FOR SUCH AN AGENCY IS $300 A YEAR.

THE FEE AND COMMISSION THAT CAN BE CHARGED BY AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY ARE PRESCRIBED BY THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY REGULATIONS,

THE FEE TO BE PAID BY JOB-SEEKERS FOR FIRST REGISTRATION AND SUBSEQUENT RENEWAL AFTER THREE MONTHS IS LIMITED TO $3, AND THE COMMISSION FOR A SUCCESSFUL JOB PLACEMENT TO 10 PER CENT OF THE FIRST MONTH'S RECEIVED SALARY.

THE REGULATIONS ALSO LIMIT THE FEE THAT CAN BE CHARGED BY AN AGENCY TO AN EMPLOYER TO $10 FOR EACH TYPE OF VACANCY REGISTERED ON FIRST REGISTRATION, AND $5 PER RENEWAL OF SUCH REGISTRATION AFTER THREE MONTHS. THE COMMISSION TO BE PAID BY AN EMPLOYER ON SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINING FOR HIM AN EMPLOYEE BY AN AGENCY IS A MATTER OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOTH PARTIES.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT AN OPERATOR MUST DISPLAY THE FEE SCHEDULES AND HIS LICENCE IN HIS PLACE OF BUSINESS AND MUST SUBMIT QUARTERLY RETURNS WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME AND MAINTAIN THE PRESCRIBED REGISTERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE AND THE REGULATIONS.

ENQUIRIES ON MATTERS RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES MAY BE MADE TO THE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT SERVICES OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ON TELEPHONE NUMBERS 5-767420 AND 5-767311.

16