DCWP Takes Action to Protect Job Seekers, Continues "Fee Free February" With Enforcement Blitz Against Predatory Employment Agencies
February 5, 2026
Commissioner Levine pledges to hold companies preying on vulnerable New York City job seekers accountable with industry-wide compliance notices, legal action, and license revocation.
NEW YORK, NY – The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) today announced new enforcement actions against predatory employment agencies—conducting citywide inspections and sending compliance notices this week to more than 270 registered businesses across the city. These actions come on the heels of a year that saw DCWP file three large cases against employment agencies for unlawful and exploitative conduct. The letters sent this week warn businesses to obey consumer protection laws that safeguard against illegal junk fees, misleading documentation, and other illegitimate tactics in which job seekers are forced to pay a substantial portion of their earnings in return for obtaining placement. This action follows up on Mayor Mamdani’s executive order directing DCWP to lead a city-wide crackdown on junk fees.
“Exploiting New Yorkers looking for a job is as low as it gets. Employment agencies that swindle job seekers are not only unethical but are in gross violation of the law,” said DCWP Commissioner Samuel Levine. “This Fee Free February and every month, DCWP has zero tolerance for businesses that prey on vulnerable people with junk fees, false promises, and hidden charges. To every New Yorker searching for work: DCWP is here to serve you and protect your rights, regardless of your immigration status.”
“Protecting the rights of job seekers looking for work to provide for themselves and their families is fundamental to the mission of this Administration,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “When predatory employment agencies exploit job seekers, drown them in illegal fees, and prevent them from getting jobs, the harm that creates ripples across our worker and small business communities. I commend Commissioner Levine and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection for their incredible efforts upholding the rights of New Yorkers.”
DCWP also recently took legal action against three major employment agencies that use illegal “advance fees” to systematically exploit economically vulnerable, non-native English speakers who are desperate to find employment to provide security for their families. As a result of the first lawsuit, CMP Employment Agency has been ordered to pay $2,266,500 in civil penalties and more than $979,600 in consumer restitution, while DCWP awaits decisions on its enforcement action against Golden Rose Employment Agency, and is about to commence trial against Eleny’s Employment Agency at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings in the Trials Division (OATH).
Employment Agencies
An employment agency is a business that helps connect job seekers with employers for a fee, acting as an intermediary to place candidates in available jobs. In New York City, these agencies must be licensed by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and follow strict legal requirements. To foster fair practices when individuals seek work, employment agencies can neither guarantee employment nor charge a fee before job placement is secured.
Despite these protections, unlicensed and unscrupulous agencies continue to exploit job seekers – particularly those who are non-English speaking or new to the workforce – by charging illegal fees, advertising false job opportunities, and leveraging language barriers to mislead individuals searching in good faith for employment. Since 2023, DCWP has conducted over 630 inspections of employment agencies. DCWP urges any and all job seekers who may have been charged unlawful fees to contact us by visiting nyc.gov/consumer or calling 311.
Details of the Cases
DCWP is currently in litigation against three employment agencies, aiming to halt their predatory practices and return redress to job seekers. Two of these enforcement actions have already been litigated through trial, most recently DCWP v. Golden Rose Employment Agency Inc. (“Golden Rose”), and in late 2024, DCWP completed its trial in DCWP v. CMP Employment Agency Corp., and Christian Meneses d/b/a CMP Employment Agency (“CMP”).
DCWP’s case against CMP established widespread violations of employment agency laws: CMP routinely charged illegal advance fees, failed to issue receipts as required by law, refused to return unlawful payments, and provided consumers with defective contracts that failed to appraise those consumers of their rights. Following trial, OATH issued a Report and Recommendation in DCWP v. CMP Employment Agency Corp., and Christian Meneses d/b/a CMP Employment Agency on March 27, 2025, and on September 9, 2025, DCWP issued a Final Decision. The Final Decision upheld DCWP’s claims against CMP, and ordered CMP to pay $2,266,500 in civil penalties and $979,610.24 in restitution.
DCWP undertook the Golden Rose investigation likewise as a part of its broader compliance efforts, and due to numerous consumer complaints about Golden Rose’s practices. DCWP’s investigation revealed that Golden Rose systemically violated New York law by charging illegal advance fees to hundreds of job seekers, failing to refund such fees upon demand, issuing defective and deceptive receipts, neglecting to provide mandated domestic worker rights statements and job-condition disclosures, and publishing advertisements that fail to display the agency’s license number. Collectively, these practices constitute predatory and unlawful conduct targeting economically vulnerable job seeking consumers, particularly domestic workers and non-native English speakers. The trial was conducted on October 23, 2025, and DCWP is awaiting the Tribunal’s Report and Recommendation.
Most recently, DCWP filed a Petition against Eleny’s Employment Agency Inc. (“Eleny’s”), about whom DCWP has received the most consumer complaints over the past five years. Based on at least 48 consumer complaints and after conducting an extensive investigation, we filed a Petition at OATH alleging that Eleny’s systematically exploits economically vulnerable job seekers, many of whom are non-native English speakers, by charging illegal advance fees prior to providing any employment opportunity, refusing to return those fees upon demand, issuing deceptive receipts that misrepresent the law and omit the mandatory GBL §181(4) disclaimer, mislabeling virtually every applicant as a “trained or skilled industrial worker” to justify unlawful fee collection, and maintaining incomplete and legally noncompliant employment records. Based on its records, Eleny’s served more than 4,350 consumers in a one-year period, indicating that thousands of job seekers were likely subjected to these unlawful and deceptive practices. DCWP is seeking civil penalties, restitution for both named and unnamed consumers, and suspension of Eleny’s license. This matter is currently pending before OATH.
DCWP Actions to Crack Down on Junk Fees
Following Executive Order 09, DCWP has led a citywide crackdown on junk fees that inflate prices for consumers and undercut honest businesses. Last month, DCWP issued a final rule prohibiting hotels from imposing excessive charges often disguised as “destination fees” or “resort fees,” as well as hidden holds on credit cards. The agency also filed a landmark lawsuit against solar panel installation company Radiant Solar and its owner for deceiving consumers and embedding undisclosed “dealer fees.” DCWP is seeking at least $1,752,225 in civil penalties and approximately $18 million in restitution from the company. Finally, following the launch of NYC’s annual Free Tax Prep initiative, DCWP will conduct a citywide sweep of paid tax preparer locations to ensure they are abiding by the law, and will send compliance notices warning paid tax preparers of the City’s ban on illegal overcharging and hidden fees. DCWP will continue to aggressively enforce the law against junk fees across industries—holding bad actors accountable and restoring trust, fairness, and transparency in the economy.
The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is the nation’s leading municipal enforcement agency, charged with delivering New Yorkers economic justice and an affordable city. DCWP leverages its authority to deliver real economic relief to New Yorkers and protect them from predatory, deceptive, and unfair practices that violate their consumer and workers’ rights. This includes pioneering cutting-edge protections, such as the City’s Consumer Protection Law, Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek Law, and Delivery Worker Laws, including the Minimum Pay Rate for delivery workers. While licensing more than 45,000 businesses in over 45 industries, we also ensure fair competition and a level playing field for responsible small businesses that are integral to New York City’s vibrant communities. DCWP also provides essential services, such as free tax preparation and financial counseling to ensure New Yorkers keep more of what they earn and can plan for their futures. Across our mission, DCWP is committed to making New York City a fairer, more affordable place to live. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp, sign up for its newsletter, or follow on its social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Media Contact:
Milo Fink Gringlas
Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
(212) 436-4977
press@dcwp.nyc.gov