Hong Kong unions call for labour import scheme review amid rising job losses

Hong Kong catering and construction unions have called for a review of the labour import scheme amid high jobless rates in the sectors, with some local employees complaining about being replaced or forced to work fewer days after cheaper staff from outside the city were recruited.

Chau Sze-kit, chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, said on Saturday the unemployment rate of the construction sector was at 6.7 per cent, attributing the figure to fewer local private projects.

He said that although the policy of importing workers might not directly affect the unemployment rate, the scheme still led to fewer job opportunities for local staff.

Chau added he had received complaints from some labourers about being sacked by their employers or having their workdays slashed because of the recruitment of imported staff.

He called on the government to be more targeted in importing labour for specific occupations in short supply.

“[Jobless rates] have continued to rise. Do we still need to import workers? I think it should be more targeted. The workers should only be imported where there is such a need,” he told a radio programme.