HK commerce union: Migrant workers scheme needs reform to protect all workers

The Hong Kong Retail, Commerce and Clothing Industrial General Union (RCCIGU), UNI affiliate, has released the results of its 2024 survey on the “importation of workers” scheme at its first press conference since the Covid-19 pandemic. It shows that changes are urgently needed to prevent employers from exploiting migrant workers and bring down standards for everyone. 

With rising labour shortages across different sectors, the Hong Kong authorities relaxed restrictions to the Supplementary Labour Scheme in September 2023 which allowed employers to bring workers into Hong Kong to work in 26 specific job categories, including cashiers and waiters.

The well-attended press event on 15 September 2024 highlighted that more than 74 per cent of the 177 survey respondents in the retail sector felt that the scheme had a negative impact, with around 109 saying their job opportunities and income were affected.

Based on the survey results, the RCCIGU recommended that the Hong Kong government should:

1. Recognize the value and extend labour rights protection to casual workers.
2. Add the concept of “proportional entitlement” to the employment regulations, so that workers can enjoy labour benefits in proportion to their working hours.
3. Establish standard working hours, “adjust” the minimum wage to a living wage assessed on an annual basis and establish on-the-job paid training holidays.
4. Strengthen employees training/retraining responsibilities and decouple the “foreign worker levy” from retraining.
5. Broaden the income and asset limits for public housing. Enhance eligibility by exempting income earned by older people from the family income and adjust the income limits for the Old Age Living Allowance to encourage employment for the elderly.
6. Stop the decision to import foreign workers for “26 job categories and unskilled or low-skilled positions” and consult with trade unions every year to review the situation of imported foreign workers and local employment.
7. Effectively formulate a family-friendly and good governance system to effectively encourage employment.

The UNI Asia & Pacific Regional Organization (UNI Apro) supports the RCCIGU’s call and encourages the Hong Kong government to actively communicate with the unions and various industries to carry out a full review on the current working conditions of Hong Kong workers.