Employment agency fined $6,000 for overcharging foreign workers on agency fees

An employment agency was fined $6,000 on Tuesday (Nov 24) for collecting excessive agency fees from foreign workers. PHOTO: ST GRAPHICS

SINGAPORE - An employment agency was fined $6,000 on Tuesday (Nov 24) for collecting excessive agency fees from foreign workers.

Career Central had on two occasions in November 2013 and October last year charged two foreign job seekers $7,519 and $7,919 even before their job placements.

The sum was more than two months of their salary, which is the maximum amount agencies can charge for fees.

The agency had overcharged each of the two workers in excess of $919.

Some were non-prescribed fees such as administrative fees and resume marketing fees, which is a contravention of the Employment Agencies Act, said the Ministry of Manpower.

The ministry added that Career Central's employment agency licence is being reviewed and their licence remains suspended in the meantime.

Job seekers also should not pay fees to their employment agencies until they are successfully placed with an employer, said the ministry.

Upon payment of fees, job seekers should request from their employment agency itemised receipts that show a breakdown of the services provided which they have paid for.

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