Two local women were fined by the Magistrate’s Court yesterday after admitting to offences under the Employment Agencies Order, 2004, for operating unlicensed employment agency services and misusing a valid agency licence.
Hajah Dayang Tirahmat @ Hajah Dayang Siti Armah binti Haji Untong, 67, was fined BND1,000, or face one month’s imprisonment in default of payment, after she pleaded guilty to carrying out employment agency work without a valid licence between October 2023 and January 2024.
Meanwhile, Suyanti binti Haji Sarji, 56, the registered owner of Suyanti Sarji Employment Agency, was fined BND2,000 or two months’ jail in default, after admitting to lending her agency’s licence to Hajah Dayang Tirahmat during the same period.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Emily Goh told the court that Hajah Dayang Tirahmat had facilitated the hiring of Indonesian domestic workers and a driver for two individuals using Suyanti’s licence. She coordinated with an Indonesian employment agency, shared biodata of potential recruits, and compiled the required documentation.
She received BND9,000 in total payments – BND3,000 in cash and BND6,000 via bank transfer – and issued her own receipts. A cut of BND200 per worker went to her, while the rest covered agency and processing costs.
Investigations confirmed that Hajah Dayang Tirahmat was not licensed under the Employment Agencies Order, 2004.
She was charged under Section 6(1), which carries a penalty of up to BND5,000 in fines, one year’s imprisonment, or both.
Suyanti admitted to handing over her licence and relevant documents to Hajah Dayang Tirahmat, who used them for Department of Labour applications. Suyanti received two payments of BND500 for the processing costs. Her actions violated Section 31(f) of the same Order, which prohibits licensees from lending their agency licences to others.
Magistrate Syaffina Shahif handed down the sentences yesterday, noting that both defendants had no previous convictions. – Fadley Faisal
