BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: A 52-year-old Filipina was fined BND1,000 (US$752) for operating an employment agency as both manager and owner without a licence from the Commissioner of Labour.
Arlene Soriano Esperanza appeared before Magistrate Muhammad Qamarul Affyian bin Abdul Rahman on March 5, where she was charged by Deputy Public Prosecutor Abdul Musawwir bin Mahali under the Employment Agencies Order, 2004, Section 6(1). The woman pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred between July 2022 and April 2023.
Investigations by the Employment Agency Division of the Department of Labour revealed that Arlene had collected personal information of Filipino workers, received copies of passports and documents, and accepted payments from a local company.
A fine was imposed on the woman on March 6, which she settled. The failure to pay the fine would have resulted in imprisonment for one month. According to the Department of Labour, under the provisions of the Employment Agencies Order, 2004, Section 6(1), anyone operating an employment agency must hold a licence issued by the Commissioner of Labour.
The Department of Labour reminded the public, including foreign nationals, not to engage in employment agency activities – especially recruitment, supply and bringing foreign workers into Brunei Darussalam for employment purposes – without a licence from the Commissioner of Labour. by the Magistrate’s Court for operating an employment agency as both manager and owner without a licence from the Commissioner of Labour. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
