Hong Kong’s Labour Department has revoked the licence of Saiko Hong, an employment agency, after its licensee and an associate were convicted of attempting to overcharge a foreign domestic helper.

Under sections 53(1)(c)(iv) and 53(1)(e)(i) of the Employment Ordinance (EO), the commissioner for labour may revoke an employment agency’s licence if she is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the licensee or an individual employed by the licensee has contravened any provision of Part XII of the employment agency or any regulation made under section 62 of the EO.

According to the Sun Hong Kong, the two (licensee and associate) were fined a total of HKD 16,000 (USD 2,056) at Eastern Magistrate’s Court as a penalty.

The department decided to prosecute the two after investigating a complaint filed by a foreign domestic helper in September 2022, and finding sufficient evidence to support a charge.