Latest news with #EnhancedSupplementaryLabourScheme
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.
HKFP
28-04-2025
- Business
- HKFP
Suspend labour import scheme, women workers' group urges gov't ahead of Labour Day
A Hong Kong women workers' group has called on the government to suspend the city's 'enhanced' labour import scheme, saying it has negatively affected employees' working conditions. Around 15 members of the Hong Kong Women Workers' Association (HKWWA) unfurled a banner and held signs outside the Central Government Offices (CGO) on Sunday, ahead of the annual Labour Day on May 1. The banner read: 'There are many defects in labour protection' and 'Government policies are not the right fit.' A government representative later met the group outside the CGO complex to receive their petition. The group said in a statement that the government's two-year expended labour import scheme, which was launched in September 2023, had caused employers to lose interest in improving working conditions. 'Currently, the easy importation of non-local labour means that local employers have no motivation to improve conditions to attract workers, raise wages, or enhance occupational health and safety,' the Chinese-language statement read. The Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme allows Hong Kong employers to bring in non-local workers for 26 types of jobs that were previously only open to local residents – including cashiers, hair stylists, sales assistants, and waiters – as well as unskilled or low-skilled posts such as cleaners, dishwashers, and security guards. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun told the Legislative Council on April 16 that the government had approved a total of 54,278 non-local workers – mostly from mainland China – between September 2023 and March 2025. Among them, 8,971 people took up positions as waiters and waitresses, followed by 6,172 individuals hired as junior cooks. The HKWWA said on Sunday that it was 'ironic' that Hong Kong allowed more non-local workers to take up jobs in the food and beverage and retail sectors amid the industries' downturn. Some cleaners were dismissed due to their age in recent years, while around 2,500 workers were imported from elsewhere for this role, they added. They urged the government to formulate policies to better protect local low-skilled labour, saying such workers have 'low bargaining power' because they are seen as easily replaceable. On Thursday, a catering labour union asked the government after finding that more than 200 local employees reported being replaced by imported workers. The HKWWA also called on the government to consider adopting a living wage of HK$61.50 per hour, instead of a minimum wage, because the latter does not reflect a 'reasonable return' for workers. Hong Kong is set to raise the statutory hourly minimum wage from HK$40 to HK$42.10 in May. However, the new minimum wage still fails to 'uphold workers' dignity' in their daily lives, the group said, pointing out that it would only lead to a monthly wage of HK$10,158, assuming the minimum wage worker works full-time. The government should re-evaluate the minimum pay calculation mechanism, so that workers can keep up with inflation and ensure their income is higher than that of those who receive Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, the HKWWA said. Implementing a living wage, which is calculated based on the cost of living in Hong Kong, can allow workers to support themselves and one non-working family member, the group said. Workers 'can afford a balanced diet, maintain a social life, and save for unexpected events,' the HKWWA said. Hong Kong first introduced the statutory minimum wage in 2011. It was last adjusted in 2023 after a four-year freeze.
HKFP
25-04-2025
- Business
- HKFP
Hong Kong catering union calls for mechanism to halt labour import scheme after ‘200 workers replaced'
A catering labour union has called on Hong Kong authorities to establish a mechanism to halt the controversial labour import scheme after finding that over 200 local employees reported being replaced by imported workers. The Eating Establishment Employees General Union said on Thursday that some employees reported being fired and replaced by non-local workers employed through the city's 'enhanced' labour import scheme. Labour minister Chris Sun said last week that the government had approved a total of 54,278 non-local workers – mostly from mainland China – since the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme was launched in early September 2023. The two-year scheme, set to end in September, allows Hong Kong employers to bring in non-local workers for 26 types of jobs that were previously only open to local residents – including cashiers, hair stylists, sales assistants, and waiters – as well as unskilled or low-skilled posts such as cleaners, dishwashers, and security guards. 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. 'Just cutting costs' Citing results from an opinion survey on the scheme's impact on local employees, union chair Lam Chin-kwok said that 70 per cent of more than 2,000 respondents said their employers had imported non-local workers. Some 90 per cent said they opposed the continuation of the labour import scheme. Chiu Kwun-chung, head of the union's labour rights committee, said: 'If there are sackings after labour imports, it's obvious that they aren't solving staff shortages, or easing the pressure on employees… just cutting costs or relieving operational pressures.' Chiu also said that some employers had fired mostly older employees and replaced them with imported workers. Dishwashers had also lost their jobs to the labour import scheme, he added. Under the scheme, companies must pay non-local workers no less than the median monthly wage for that job. The union called on the government to carry out regular reviews and establish a mechanism to halt the scheme should it compromise the employment of local workers. Union chair Lam on Thursday also urged the government to establish a reporting system allowing employees to flag their bosses' alleged abuses of the labour import scheme. The Federation of Trade Unions, a pro-Beijing coalition that the catering industry union is part of, has also made similar calls, saying the catering and construction sectors were among the hardest hit by unemployment in recent years. The expansion of labour importation schemes has sparked controversy, with labour groups and political parties raising concerns that they have led to higher unemployment rates and lower salaries among local workers.
RTHK
24-04-2025
- Business
- RTHK
Govt working to improve labour import scheme
Govt working to improve labour import scheme Warner Cheuk says those workers brought in under the labour import scheme have supplemented the labour force, improved services and fostered business development. Photo: RTHK Acting Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk said on Thursday the government is looking at ways to improve a labour importation scheme. The Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme, introduced about one and a half years ago, allows foreign workers to be brought in under 26 low-skilled job categories. The scheme is set to expire in September. 'The scheme has brought its desired effect into play,' Cheuk said at a government Labour Day reception. "Those brought in have effectively supplemented the labour force, improved services and fostered business development. 'We are reviewing and enhancing the scheme. "We will consider the opinions by employer and labour groups in order to decide the future direction of the scheme." Cheuk also expressed gratitude to all workers in the city, saying their hard work contributed to the prosperity and progress of Hong Kong. Lawmakers, representatives from the business and labour sectors, as well as officials such as Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun and Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare Alice Lau also attended the event.
