The Labour Department today promulgated a revised Code of Practice (CoP) for Employment Agencies, superseding the original one published in 2018.

To address the suspected abuse of premature termination of employment contracts by foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) seeking to change employers, the revised CoP requires the employment agencies to clearly brief FDH job seekers on the relevant immigration regulations, and not to adopt business practices such as providing monetary incentives to helpers in someone else’s employ to induce them to prematurely terminate their employment contracts, the department said.

The new CoP also requires employment agencies to inform the department of whether they are associated with any financial institution when applying for or renewing a licence.

Moreover, the CoP stipulates that employment agencies should not provide job seekers with information relating to personal loans and not withhold job seekers' employment contracts to force them to pay or repay any sum of money.

To further protect the interests of FDH employers as consumers, the department explained that the revised CoP requires employment agencies to include, in service agreements signed with FDH employers, the amount of the fee set for each service category, and clearly state whether a refund or arrangement for a replacement helper will be provided where their services are not delivered in full, or the employment contract has been prematurely terminated by the helper within the two-year contract period.

The agencies are also required to provide the department with information relating to temporary accommodation provided for FDH job seekers and ensure their compliance with the relevant requirements.

In addition, employment agencies should not publicly post, display or disclose the sensitive personal data of job seekers and related individuals, the department emphasised.

It pointed out that the revised CoP introduced additional standards that it expects the agencies to meet, in response to public concerns about the agencies’ services in recent years and the views collected during public consultations.

Moreover, the department reminded employment agencies of the need to operate in accordance with the CoP requirements.

For enquiries, call the department’s Employment Agencies Administration at 2115 3665.