"It's common for some unemployed New Yorkers to look for work through an employment agency. But thousands of local job hunters in the last four years-in particular, those with low incomes who are not native English speakers-have paid illegal upfront fees to these agencies, or received only partial refunds for what they paid despite not landing work, according to the city. In 2023, as tens of thousands of immigrants and asylum seekers arrived in New York City, City Limits reported on those who'd turned to employment agencies for assistance-and paid fees for jobs that never materialized."
"What we found in our review was that it appears that many of the employment agencies are engaging in lots of similar unlawful conduct, and it is going uncomplained about, largely because their deception is such that they even deprive consumers of knowing that they have certain rights."
""This is the perfect storm for unscrupulous employers and unscrupulous employment agencies," Hildalyn Colon-Hernandez, deputy director at New Immigrant Community Empowerment, said at the time."
Many unemployed New Yorkers seek work through employment agencies. Thousands of local job hunters in the past four years—particularly low-income, non-native English speakers—paid illegal upfront fees or received only partial refunds despite not landing work. A 2023 influx of immigrants and asylum seekers increased demand for agency services and created exploitable vulnerabilities. The city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection conducted a compliance review of agencies with the most complaints and found widespread unlawful conduct and deceptive practices that prevent consumers from knowing their rights. DCWP has litigated against three companies at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.
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