Import of 29,000 workers approved in the past year

The government said Wednesday that officials approved applications for nearly 29,000 imported workers over the past year after lifting restrictions on foreign labor for 26 types of jobs.

The approval rating relates to the Enhanced Supplementary Labor Scheme (ESLS) which launched in September last year and is separate from similar programs that allow the importation of workers for construction, transport and care homes.

In a written response to Unionist MP Chau Siu-chung, Labor Minister Chris Sun said officials had received requests to import more than 66,000 workers.

The approximately 29,000 approvals granted amount to 44 percent of the total number of applications.

Waiters topped the list of employees with 5,200 approvals, followed by 3,200 chefs and 2,900 junior chefs, Sun said.

Chau asked the government to suspend the plan to protect local workers.

“(The Ministry of Labor) has been closely monitoring the implementation of ESLS and will review (the scheme) before the two-year implementation period expires,” Sun said in response.

The minister added that officials have received 62 complaints from the imported workers, mainly on issues related to wages and working hours.