PERSONS APPLYING for overseas employment through the local recruitment agency, Job-quest, are being warned by Government to do so cautiously.

Minister of Labour Pearnel Charles says the agency is being investigated for serious breaches of its licence, following complaints to the ministry of exploitation from some recruited workers.

A report of the findings of the investigation is to be submitted to Charles next Friday.

The agency has been advertising for recruits with professional and non-professional skills, to take up two-year employment contracts in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Canada.

Among the skills being sought are specialists in human resources, hospitality, construction and welding. Candidates are required to have at least three year's work experience.

Complaints

But, Charles said while the agency is a registered entity with the Ministry of Labour, there have been several complaints about its services.

"We have received a lot of complaints from workers overseas and locally concerning their recruitment policies, [service] charges and jobs that they have received," he told The Gleaner yesterday.

He said until investigations into the complaints are complete, prospective employees must check with the Ministry of Labour before using the services of the agency.

Charles would not divulge the absolute nature of the complaints about the agency and how many were made to the ministry. He, however, said the complaints were serious.

He is advising people using the services of recruitment agencies to ensure that the agency is licensed with the Ministry of Labour before investing and to conduct background checks on the entity.

Under the law, the Ministry of Labour has the power to cancel the licence of any entity that has not been operating in accordance with its permit, as well as impose fines where the agency has been found to commit an offence.

"The Ministry of Labour has a certain responsibility which we will not give up and one of them is to protect any Jamaican who is carrying a Jamaican passport anywhere around the world," Charles said.

Efforts to contact Job-quest for comment was unsuccessful as the telephone numbers rang without answer