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In 2019, there were 3266 employment agency licences issued by the Employment Agencies Administration of the Labour Department of the Hong Kong Government to the employment agencies in Hong Kong.

Legal ground of running an employment agency in Hong Kong
All employment agencies in Hong Kong shall be regulated by the Part XII of the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) of Laws of Hong Kong, and the Employment Agency Regulations (Cap. 57A) of Laws of Hong Kong. In addition, starting from 9 February 2018, all employment agencies in Hong Kong shall also ensure that their business complies with the Code of Practice for Employment Agencies, which is issued by the Commissioner for Labour.

For employers and job-seekers
Employers in Hong Kong, and job-seekers who want to start an employment in Hong Kong should pay attention to the legitimacy of an employment agency in Hong Kong before seeking assistance from them. Before seeking referral services from a profit-making employment agency, one can check the name of such employment agency on the Employment Agencies Portal of the Labour Department of the Government of Hong Kong, or on the Hong Kong Government Gazette published by the Government Logistic Department of the Government of Hong Kong. If a name of an employment agency in Hong Kong could not be found on such sources, enquiring the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) of the Labour Department of the Government of Hong Kong is also a choice.

Job-seekers, who are not a permanent Hong Kong resident but looking for a job in Hong Kong, especially those foreign domestic helpers and imported workers, may encounter, though not common, overcharging of commission from an employment agency, either licensed or not, in Hong Kong. According to the Employment Agency Regulations (Cap. 57A) of [Laws of Hong Kong], an employment agency shall not charge a job-seeker more than a sum equal to 10% of the first month’s wages received by the job-seeker after he has been placed in employment by the employment agency. For example, a foreign domestic helper, whose monthly salary is HK$4630, should not be charged more than HK463 by an employment agency after one month of one's successful placement.

For employment agencies
Generally speaking, a profit-making employment agency in Hong Kong should obtain a valid employment agency licence from Commissioner for Labour. Such employment agency licence is normally valid for only one year after the date of the issue of the licence.

A non-profit-making employment agency can apply for a certificate of exemption from Commissioner for Labour if such employment agency fulfills the prescribed condition(s) mentioned in the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) of Laws of Hong Kong.

If you are an employment agency in Hong Kong, but you are not sure if you need to apply for an employment agency licence or a certificate of exemption, you may need to seek legal advice from your legal representative in Hong Kong.