Labour Department says it is a reminder for employment agencies to comply with the law
A man in Hong Kong has been fined $10,000 for operating an employment agency (EA) in the financial hub without a license.
The Labour Department this week said the man was convicted for violating the rules stipulated in the Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations.
The case stems from a complaint received by the Labour Department from an employer who was seeking to hire a foreign domestic worker.
"As the investigation revealed sufficient evidence that the man was operating an unlicensed EA, the LD decided to take out prosecution," the Labour Department said in a media release.
The man was convicted on Tuesday at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts.
Reminder to employers
The case is a reminder to employers to follow the law as well as the Code of Practice for Employment Agencies to avoid prosecution, according to the Labour Department.
"Irrespective of the modus operandi or the types of jobs referred, all EAs must obtain a licence issued by the LD before undertaking any EA activities," the department said. "Except for the EA licence holder or his or her associates, no one shall operate, manage, or assist in the management of an EA."
Individuals who are caught operating an EA without a license can receive fines of up to $350,000 and imprisonment for three years, according to Hong Kong's Employment Ordinance.
For employers and members of the public, the Hong Kong Labour Department has an Employment Agencies Portal where they can validate if a certain agency has a valid licence to operate.
