UPDATE: This article previously stated that Smile Sunshine Employment is the same employment agency where a domestic worker was killed after getting crushed by a concrete slab. That is incorrect. The death ocurred at another agency. We regret the error.
Smile Sunshine Employment, based in North Point, was fined HKD10,000 at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Friday for collecting excessive placement fees from a foreign domestic helper.
The helper made a complaint to the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) in March.
By law, employment agencies are not allowed to charge more than 10 percent of job seekers’ first month of salary upon a successful placement.
“We are glad that the foreign domestic helper concerned was willing to come forward to report her case to the EAA and act as prosecution witness,” said a labour department spokesperson, who encouraged others to come forward.
“The labour department will not tolerate any employment agencies overcharging job seekers and will act promptly upon receipt of any complaints,” he continued.
Smile Sunshine Employment is the sixth employment agency to be convicted of overcharging this year, after Central’s Bagus Employment Agency, Tai Wai’s Satisfactory Employment & Travel Centre, Sha Tin’s Vicks Maid Consultant Company, Kwai Chung’s Joyce Agency, and Tsuen Wan’s Maidhouse Employment Agency
To make a complaint or an enquiry about employment agencies breaking the law, contact the EAA at (+852) 2852-3535, or visit its office at 12/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong.
Photo: Myriam Tsen-Kung/Coconuts Media
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