Will importing 20,000 workers fix Hong Kong’s labour woes? It’s a good start, say bosses but unions warn pay, conditions the main problem
- Union chairman accuses government of failing to address issues such as low wages among certain sectors
- But business leaders welcome scheme and stress need for more workers to help get local industry back on track
Hong Kong labour unions have warned that a government plan to import more than 20,000 workers will not address the causes of the manpower shortage, arguing issues such as low pay and unsatisfactory work conditions will remain unresolved.
But the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Hong Kong Industries and Chinese Manufacturers’ Association welcomed the move, saying they hoped it would ease the manpower crunch and safeguard the jobs of local workers.
The government on Tuesday announced it would allow the construction, aviation and transport sectors to import workers under a scheme that will bypass vetting by union leaders and other members of the Labour Advisory Board. It was expected that most of the workers would come from mainland China.
Under the policy, the construction industry will be allowed to import 12,000 workers, while the airport and transport sectors can bring 6,300 staff and up to 1,700 coach drivers, respectively.
Hong Kong’s working population declined by 6 per cent to 3.46 million in 2022 from 3.68 million in 2018, with the number of low-skilled workers falling by 160,000 during the period. The figures exclude foreign domestic helpers.
