Our Story
We got started because we saw a better way of hiring domestic helpers. By removing worker placement fees, we’ve reinvented the domestic helper agency so that it is fair to workers, and fair to employers.
Debt Bondage
For too long, employment agencies have been making money from doing a bad job. Employers are charged for bad customer service, while agencies secretly charge domestic helpers too. This illegal practice leaves domestic helpers in debt and it fails employers.
When agencies charge domestic helpers, they are incentivised to place those who are willing to pay, rather than those who are right for the job. When a helper is fired or quits, the agency makes more money by charging replacement workers. Meanwhile the domestic helper gets further into debt as she borrows more money for a new job.
We saw this broken system and knew we could do better.
Our Solution
We launched Fair Employment Agency as a better way of hiring domestic helpers. Because we never charge fees to domestic helpers, our agency works for the interests of everyone.
Domestic helpers benefit because they start their jobs free from recruitment debt. Employers benefit because we only place helpers who are a good match for their family. And Hong Kong benefits because we are setting a new standard of professionalism for all employment agencies.
How we got started
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We’re official! - Aug 2014
We gained accreditation from the Philippines Consulate and established the first headquarters in Wan Chai. The agency opened its doors and received immediate recognition, being featured in SCMP’s Post Magazine.
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1000th placement - Dec 2016
We place 1000 domestic workers, saving those workers an estimated US$1.5million in recruitment debt.
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TVB Pearl Report - Apr 2017
TVB Pearl introduced our work in a feature-length piece on exploitation in the domestic worker recruitment process. Fair Employment Agency is presented as a new type of domestic helper agency and we have a boost in new clients after the show airs.
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New office, new look - Aug 2018
Thanks to a kind donor, we strengthened all of our technology platforms, built a new website and updated our look. We also moved to a bigger space in Sheung Wan that would fit our 20+ team comfortably. Meanwhile, we placed our 3000th domestic worker, helping those workers avoid an estimated US$4.5million in recruitment debt.
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4000th placement - Jan 2020
We place our 4000th domestic worker, helping those workers avoid an estimated US$6million in recruitment debt.
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We are accredited with the Indonesian Consulate! - Jul 2020
We are accredited with the Indonesian Consulate!
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5000th placement - Jan 2021
After a challenging 2020, we begin 2021 by passing our 5000th placement milestone.
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We are accredited with the Royal Thai Consulate - Jan 2021
We are accredited with the Royal Thai Consulate!
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8000th placement - Jul 2023
In 2023, we have placed 8,000 domestic workers and helped them to save over millions in recruitment debt!