The Hong Kong government is planning to strengthen regulation for employment agencies, the Hong Kong Free Press reports. The aim is to make a code of practice for employment agencies legally enforceable. The code came about amid concerns from the public and job seekers with particular concern for foreign domestic helpers. There are more than 350,000 foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong serving over 280,000 households, according to the government and many domestic workers rely on employment agencies for jobs, according to the report.

The news has come many months after migrant worker rights groups called on the government to legislate the code of practice. Under the new regulations, the Labour Department will impose heavier penalties on employment agencies that overcharge jobseekers or operate without a licence.