Latest news with #ChrisSun
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Age limit for non-local skilled workers seeking jobs in Hong Kong raised from 35 to 40
The age limit for non-local skilled workers seeking employment in Hong Kong has been raised from 35 to 40 years old, the labour chief has revealed, saying the change was made after extensive consultation and will attract the necessary talent to address the city's manpower shortage in technical fields. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han confirmed the change on a radio show on Friday, adding that details of the new scheme were being finalised and would be released soon. 'Setting it at 40 years old is more ideal. We expect that if they come at 40, they can work until 65, meaning at least 25 years of contribution to Hong Kong's economy,' he said, identifying sectors such as lift maintenance, electrical technicians and enrolled nurses in care homes as key areas for recruitment. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's policy address last October projected a labour shortage of around 180,000 workers across various sectors in the next five years, and he vowed to reform various aspects of the city's talent admission regime, including providing new channels for skilled and experienced workers within specific trades facing 'acute' manpower shortages to come to Hong Kong. The labour chief explained that the initial proposal for a 35-year age limit was revised after extensive consultation, with the new age range of 18 to 40 deemed more effective in attracting suitable technical talent to meet Hong Kong's labour needs. He noted that the global trend of ageing populations meant that the definition of 'young' was also evolving, influencing Hong Kong's approach to talent acquisition.
HKFP
3 days ago
- Business
- HKFP
HK gov't to introduce proposal to boost rights of delivery couriers this year, labour minister says
The Hong Kong government will introduce a proposal this year to enhance the rights and benefits of digital platform workers, labour and welfare chief Chris Sun has said, following recent strikes by delivery workers. The government 'will introduce a proposal for further enhancing the rights and benefits of platform workers within this year, and will consider reinforcing the protection for platform workers through legislative means,' Sun told the Legislative Council (LegCo) on Wednesday. He also said the government had established a liaison group consisting of representatives from the government, platform companies, and labour organisations 'to explore suitable proposals.' Sun's remarks were in response to pro-establishment lawmaker Kingsley Wong's question about whether the government would introduce a legislative proposal to protect the labour rights of delivery couriers, as promised last year. The government said in November that it would propose ways to enhance the protection of platform workers, which 'may include proposals that can only be implemented by legislation.' Sun said on Wednesday that the government's proposal would be based on the results of surveys and consultations conducted by the Labour Department last year, including the Thematic Household Survey, an opinion survey of platform workers, and focus groups on their working conditions. He also told LegCo that the survey results showed that 'platform workers were most concerned about work injury compensation.' Delivery workers do not enjoy the same labour protections as full-time employees, as Hong Kong law stipulates that delivery workers are considered self-employed contractors. If a worker has an accident while delivering food, they can only claim accident insurance provided by the delivery platform – if any. They are not entitled to workers' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance. However, the government is unlikely to drastically change the status of delivery workers, the labour minister told lawmakers at Wednesday's meeting. 'I think it's not suitable to give a blanket definition for platform workers as full-time employees,' Sun said, adding that a delivery courier's status as a full-time employee or self-employed contractor would depend on their working conditions. Keeta workers' strikes Since late April, couriers working for Keeta have been staging a series of protests across Hong Kong demanding better treatment from the delivery platform. On May 22, around 270 Keeta riders went on strike in Central, Hung Hom, and To Kwa Wan to protest what they called an 'unfair' system that is slashing their earnings. Owned by Chinese tech giant Meituan, Keeta launched in Hong Kong in May 2023 and has grown steadily in market share. It is one of two delivery apps in the city, after British company Deliveroo exited Hong Kong in early April.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong to consider stronger laws to protect food delivery workers this year
Hong Kong authorities will propose to improve the rights and benefits of food delivery workers this year and consider legislative means to protect them better, following a string of recent labour disputes and protests. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han told lawmakers at a Legislative Council meeting on Wednesday that authorities would reinforce protection of workers on food delivery apps and had set up a liaison group composed of representatives from the government, operators and labour groups to explore suitable measures. Some lawmakers highlighted the need for greater scrutiny of such workers, noting that many of them operated illegally. Sun revealed that the authority had studied the regulatory regime in mainland China, where the Supreme People's Court had determined and defined the relationship between platform operators and workers based on work arrangements. He added that based on the findings of two surveys conducted by the Labour Department last year, workers were 'most concerned about work injury compensation'. Lawmakers voiced concerns that the current protection of food delivery workers in the city lagged behind many regions, including mainland China and some Western countries. In Hong Kong, food delivery workers have gathered to protest on several occasions in recent weeks.
HKFP
21-05-2025
- Business
- HKFP
Hong Kong labour chief defends imported labour schemes after unemployment rate rises
The Hong Kong labour minister has defended the government's schemes to import non-local workers following criticism that the programmes have led to a rising unemployment rate in the city. 'I have noticed that recent comments have linked the unemployment situation in certain industries to imported labour. I must emphasise that the government's manpower policy has always prioritised local workers,' Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said in a Chinese-language Facebook post on Tuesday. Sun's statement comes after the city recorded higher unemployment and underemployment rates – a record high since early 2023. Hong Kong's unemployment rate for the February-April period rose to 3.4 per cent, an increase of 0.2 percentage points compared with the January-March rate, according to the Census and Statistics Department's figures released on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the underemployment rate for the February-April period increased to 1.3 per cent, also a 0.2 percentage point rise compared with the January-March rate. Sun suggested that local workers and unions file a report with the Labour Department should they suspect an employer 'has replaced local employees with imported workers.' He added, 'I reiterate that employers cannot replace existing local employees with imported labour. If layoffs are necessary, employers should first reduce imported workers.' Chau Siu-chung, a pro-establishment lawmaker for the labour sector, wrote on Facebook on Tuesday that sectors such as catering and construction, which allow imported workers, had experienced a 'significant rise' in unemployment rates. Unemployment in both the construction and catering sectors from February to April has risen to 5.7 per cent, much higher than the general unemployment rate, he said, citing the government's data. 'On one hand, there is a large influx of foreign labour, on the other hand, more and more locals are becoming unemployed. This situation is concerning,' Chau said in the Chinese-language post. He also wrote that some employers fired local employees soon after hiring imported workers. The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU), a pro-establishment political party, also said that sectors eligible for non-local hires had reported a significant increase in unemployment rates. It urged the government to review various imported labour programmes, especially the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS), which permits non-local hires without quota limits. Expanded schemes Hong Kong expanded a series of imported labour schemes two years ago, citing a labour shortage. In June 2023, the government increased the quota for non-local workers in the construction and transport industries and residential care homes. In September 2023, the ESLS was launched. The scheme, which is set to end in September, allows Hong Kong employers to import workers for 26 types of jobs that were previously only open to local residents, such as cashiers, hair stylists, sales assistants, and waiters. As of the end of March, the city has imported more than 54,000 non-local workers under ESLS. Among them, more than 8,900 non-local workers worked as waiters – the most popular job taken up by imported workers – followed by junior cooks, according to the Labour and Welfare Bureau.
RTHK
21-05-2025
- Business
- RTHK
'Overseas professionals help drive HK's development'
'Overseas professionals help drive HK's development' Hong Kong's talent policy has brought in young professionals who have helped drive the city's development despite not all of them deciding to eventually settle, according to labour chief Chris Sun. The labour and welfare secretary also said the time spent in Hong Kong by successful candidates under the Top Talent Pass Scheme could help the economy. "It is within our expectations that some adapt well to Hong Kong, find their own opportunities for development, and contribute to the economic development," Sun told RTHK's Overview Policy programme. "But there are always people who, no matter how capable they are, are not able to get used to living here. It isn't a big deal. This will simply be a peaceful breakup." The minister also said the knowledge and investments brought by professionals who came to Hong Kong through the talent scheme have boosted the city's development. "There will always be a lot of new professionals coming to Hong Kong, who are young, usually aged between 30 and 40. Some bring with them money, while others bring with them technology," he said.
