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SCMP Reporter

A domestic helper has been awarded more than $20,000 from an employment agency that overcharged her.

Small Claims Tribunal adjudicator Yeung Kwok-leung ruled that the Golden Hand Employment Agency charged Rozanah Hadi Amin, 27, unlawful commission and had to refund the money.

Mr Yeung said employment agencies were only allowed to charge a maximum of 10 per cent of the first monthly salary of employees for whom they secured jobs.

Indonesian Ms Amin arrived in Hong Kong on November 17, 1998, to work as a domestic helper in Tuen Mun, earning a monthly salary of $3,860.

But she claimed the agency received $400 from her in cash and took $20,600 from her bank account with an ATM card.

She accused the agency of making withdrawals from her savings account without her consent between January 20 and June 20, 1999.

Yesterday's tribunal ruled that the agency was entitled to a $386 commission but had to return the rest of the money to Ms Amin. She was also awarded $300 in costs plus interest.

She told the tribunal that agency employee Chan Suk-fong took her to open a bank account on January 5, 1999, but kept her ATM card.

Ms Amin said she was not aware the money had been withdrawn from her account until June 20, when she received the ATM card from her employer, who had been given it by the agency.

The agency told the tribunal Ms Chan was not its employee at the time.

But Mr Yeung found that although Ms Chan worked for another company in January 1999, her former employer had 'close connections' with the Golden Hand Employment Agency.

The tribunal held that Ms Chan did take Ms Amin to open a bank account.



Agency must repay maid for overcharging