An unlicensed employment agency operator has been fined $6,000 in the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court for breaching the Employment Ordinance, bringing the number of employment agencies convicted of breaching the law to 10 this year.

The defendant Ho Chi-man was charged with operating the Made Easy Employment Agency without a valid licence. She was prosecuted by the Labour Department.

Any person who intends to operate an employment agency must apply for a licence from the Labour Department, and comply with Part XII of the Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations, whether the employment will be be in or outside Hong Kong.

The licence fee is $2,000 for a main office and $385 for a branch office. The maximum penalty for unlicensed operation is $50,000.

Job applicants are reminded to make sure that the employment agency is licensed when they seek employment through its service, regardless of whether the employment is in or outside Hong Kong.

So far this year 10 employment agencies have been convicted of breaching the law. Among them, three have been convicted of unlicenced operation, two for overcharging commission, and the rest for such offences as failure to keep proper record for inspection or failure to display the employment agency licence.

For enquiries or complaints against employment agencies, call the department's Employment Agencies Administration at 2852 3535 or visit its office at 12/F Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central.