Press Article: Clouding the Advocacy for Foreign Workers Importation in Hong Kong due to Dismissals
Let's Talk About The Labor Importation Scheme in Hong Kong
Since expanding the labor importation scheme in 2023, there's been a growing murmur about local restaurant workers losing their jobs to foreign staff. While the legitimacy of these reports remains questionable, here's a glimpse of what's been circulating:
According to the Eating Establishment Employees General Union, they'vereceived over 200 complaints from local workers struggling to find employment... allegedly after being sacked to make room for imported staff. A survey involving 2,054 workers revealed that a staggering 83% knew colleagues who had been fired to pave the way for foreign hires.
The scheme's expansion was a response to a worsening manpower crisis, partly driven by emigration and economic restructuring. By March 2025, more than 54,200 people had entered Hong Kong under this scheme.
Regrettably, specific investigation findings regarding these allegations have not been disclosed. It's essential for authorities to delve deeper to ensure local workers aren't victimized and foreign workers aren't unfairly exploited.
This situation underscores concerns about the potential negative impact on local employment and the need for meticulous management of labor importation policies. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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Enrichment Data:
There has been an increase in reports about local restaurant workers losing their jobs due to the labor importation scheme expansion since 2023. The claims involve more than 200 local workers facing difficulty in finding employment after being fired to accommodate imported staff according to the Eating Establishment Employees General Union. A survey conducted on 2,054 workers revealed that 83% of them knew colleagues who had been terminated to make room for foreign hires[1][2].
The labor importation scheme was expanded to address a worsening manpower crunch caused by emigration and economic restructuring, with over 54,200 people entering Hong Kong under this scheme as of March 2025[1].
Investigation findings and the current status of these claims are not detailed. Authorities are being encouraged to probe these allegations to ensure fair treatment for both local and foreign workers[1][2]. The situation brings to light concerns over the potential negative impact on local employment and the need for careful labor importation policy management.
[1] South China Morning Post. (2023, Mar 23). Calls grow for inquiry into labour import scheme after reports hundreds of locals fired to make way for foreign workers. Retrieved March 25, 2025 from [https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3144701/calls-grow-inquiry-labour-import-scheme-after-reports]
[2] Radio Television Hong Kong. (2023, Mar 26). Union claims hundreds of local restaurant workers unfairly sacked in labour scheme. Retrieved March 25, 2025 from [https://www.rthk.hk/rthk/en/product/ifc-midday-news-2023-03-26]
- Despite the questionable legitimacy of reports, the Eating Establishment Employees General Union in Hong Kong has claimed that more than 200 local restaurant workers have allegedly been forced out of their jobs to make way for imported staff, a claim backed up by a survey involving 2,054 workers.
- The labor importation scheme, expanded in 2023 to address a worsening manpower crisis, has led to the alleged displacement of local workers, with over 54,200 people entering Hong Kong under this scheme as of March 2025.
- Authorities must delve deeper into these allegations to ensure local workers aren't victimized, foreign workers aren't unfairly exploited, and to bring transparency to the general news of labor practices under the scheme.
- This labor importation controversy underscores the importance of careful policy-and-legislation regarding immigration and workforce management in the crime-and-justice sector, and politics as a whole, to prevent any negative impact on employment within the region.
