Tashieka Mair, Gleaner Writer

Derrick Kellier, Minister of Labour and Social Security. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Employment agencies that defraud job seekers could come in for stiffer penalties following Cabinet's approval of higher fines and longer prison terms.

Derrick Kellier, Minister of Labour and Social Security, said yesterday that the current fines for operating an employment agency without a licence are so small that they fail to act as a deterrent to illegal operators.

"If you operate an agency without a licence from the (Labour) Ministry, the original fine was $400, so it didn't really matter to anyone, because they would just pay the fine and go back to operating illegally, fleecing people here and there, and operating their business with little or no regard," said Mr. Kellier while on a visit to his ministry's western region offices in Montego Bay, St. James.

"Cabinet has given its approval for some very stiff penalties to be administered when we find persons delinquent in respect of the observance of the law," he said. "(It has been) approved for us to increase those (fines) up to $500,000 or nine months in prison."

Fines incurred

He said that, if persons obtain a licence by fraudulent means, fines incurred will move from $200 to $250,000.

Mr. Kellier pointed out that, under the Employment Agency Regulation Act, persons will have to be licensed to recruit people for jobs locally and overseas.

On Wednesday, The Gleaner reported that Fraud Squad investigators are probing the operations of Medley Development Corporation, a self-styled employment agency which allegedly fleeced victims of millions of dollars.