The Star yesterday reported that legal actions have been taken on two scam job and recruitment agencies whose operation has been in violation against the law.

The Ministry of Human Resources and the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) have jumped into actions after receiving numerous complaints about the two agencies. Both companies are headquartered in Kuala Lumpur.

The first agency, Mega Access Resources, is now being charged in court after found to be operating without a valid license. The company has an office based in Jalan Imbi.

In addition to this, the company has also been asking job seekers, which are mostly school leavers and fresh graduates to pay an amount of RM165 as a ‘consultation fee’, where job seekers are promised with a job soon.

Grand Paramount Enterprise, which operates from their office in Lorong P. Ramlee, is the second agency, and has been blacklisted by the Companies Commission of Malaysia, SSM. It also asked job seekers who registered to pay a registration fee RM360 deposit.

Both has halted their operation on immediate basis.

Job seekers finding themselves having to pay fees to the so-called recruitment agencies in return for a job are advised to report to the Ministry of Human Resource.

12,000 employees of Starbucks in the United States are set to lose their job after the company decided to downsize its operation and close down 600 of its outlets.

With the US economy facing downturn and uncertainties, consumers are looking for ways to cut their daily spending, and many of them are not in the mood for spending too much on Starbucks drinks, which cost between 3 to 4 dollars per cup.

Coupled with the increasing competition such as McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts, the Starbucks top guns felt slashing off jobs as the way to go.

The 600 odd outlets affected are either under performing or unprofitable, and their operations are too close to another company-operated outlet. In the recent years, criticism has been thrown at the company for opening too many Starbucks outlet in one single building.

The 12,000 employees are made up of full time, part time and temporary workers. Plans for new store opening have also been halted immediately following the move. Following the news, analysts are expecting the company to return to profitability by end of the year.

Starbucks, a Seattle-based life style coffee shop, is the largest coffeehouse chain in the world, operating in over 40 countries worldwide, through more than 15, 000 outlets worldwide.

Recently, JobStreet.com ran a survey to find the key factors that motivate an employee in his or her job.

More than 1,000 people, made up of senior managers, managers and non-managers working across diverse industries nationwide made up the respondents.

It was found out, perhaps not too surprising, that salary factor tops the list, with 19% of the respondents indicating it as the most important factor that motivates them in their job.

This is followed by job flexibility, work balance and finally career advancement opportunity. Job flexibility and work balance recorded the same percentage with 14%, with career advancement coming close with 13%. 9% of the respondents selected work condition as a motivating factor.

Among other finding is that for senior managers, a good salary is not always necessarily on top their mind, where the job itself determined if they like their position or not. 68% of those surveyed also indicated that they are generally happy with their present job.

Table of results for job motivation factors:

Good salary – 19%
Job flexibility – 14%
Balance between work and family – 14%
Career advancement and growth – 13%
Work conditions and environment – 9%

Click here to see full results of the survey.