Authorities to implement two-tier screening to prioritise local hires, increase fines for rule-breaking firms
Hong Kong authorities will tighten regulations under a labour importation scheme by rolling out a two-tier vetting process and raising the maximum penalty for employers who fail to comply, with the new measures taking effect on Tuesday.
Following an evaluation of the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS), the Labour Department announced on Monday that the system would differentiate between standard applications and sectors experiencing labour shortages.
The long-anticipated adjustment to the framework came after backlash from industries with high jobless rates, such as the catering sector, as local workers’ livelihoods and job security faced intense competition from imported labour.
Under Tier 1, employers are required to maintain a ratio of two local full-time staff for each imported worker and complete a four-week local hiring period.
Tier 2 imposes stricter conditions on specific industries facing severe shortages. In the food and beverage sector, the ratio for designated positions will be tightened from 2:1 to 3:1. These roles include cooks, waiters, bar supervisors, restaurant supervisors, receptionists, and cashiers.
The local recruitment period for these positions has been extended to six weeks, with employers required to attend job fairs at Labour Department centres every two weeks.