Is it legal for the company to collect the deposit?

It is illegal for an employer to collect a deposit when recruiting workers, so it can complain to the labor department. The Labor Contract Law stipulates that an employer shall not detain the employee's resident identity card and other documents, and shall not require the employee to provide a guarantee or collect property from the employee in other names.

according to article 9 of the labor contract law, the employing unit shall not detain the employee's resident identity card and other documents, nor require the employee to provide a guarantee or collect property from the employee in other names.