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Hong Kong workers/labour rights
Hong KongHong Kong Economy

Importing workers to ease Hong Kong’s labour crunch will not improve salary, welfare for locals, unions warn

  • Workers’ groups from sectors said to be target of new scheme, such as construction, aviation and transport, renew opposition ahead of decision by authorities
  • Development minister earlier said move was ‘unavoidable’

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The construction sector is said to be among industries targeted by a new labour import scheme. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Edith Lin

Importing workers to Hong Kong to ease a labour crunch would not give bosses any incentive to improve the salaries and welfare of local employees, unions from various sectors in the city on Friday warned.

Workers’ groups renewed their opposition against the proposed plan, earlier described as “unavoidable” by the development minister. Local media agencies have reported authorities aimed to bring in some 9,000 workers through a special scheme for the construction, transport and aviation industries.

Ahead of the government setting the tone on the issue next month at the earliest, unions made their last-ditch bid to underscore the consequences of the move.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn has said importing labour is an “unavoidable” move. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn has said importing labour is an “unavoidable” move. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Steven Chu Hon-chung, director general of the Airport Air Freight Employees’ Association, on Friday said airport frontline workers, including aircraft cleaners and baggage handlers, already had low basic salaries, ranging between HK$13,000 and HK$16,000 (US$2,000), and had to rely on overtime work to make ends meet.

“Long working hours and working at a remote site aren’t very attractive,” Chu told a radio programme. “Importing labour for low-income jobs would be a blow to local workers … Will there be no incentives for employers to increase the salary and welfare of locals?”

He said improving local workers’ welfare should instead be the way to boost manpower and revive flight traffic, now at 60 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho on Thursday said in a media interview that foreign labour import was “unavoidable” as the city’s construction industry would enter its peak with numerous housing and infrastructure projects coming up.
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