Number of skilled Hong Kong labourers working in Macau triples in two years

The number of skilled construction workers leaving Hong Kong for Macau has more than tripled in the past two years just as the former is struggling with severe labour shortages.

There were 4,685 registered Hong Kong workers on construction sites in the former Portuguese enclave by the end of July, compared with 1,305 in July 2012, according to the latest Macau police figures. The real number is likely to be higher given that many Hong Kong construction workers go to work in Macau as unregistered daily commuters.

The number of Hong Kong construction workers in Macau had remained steady at around 1,000 since 2009. But the number surged over the past two years as Macau embarked on a new construction spree.

Hong Kong itself is now facing an acute construction labour shortage.

A recent survey released by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors found more than 90 per cent of construction managers flagged up various degrees of skill shortages.

The chairman of the Real Estate Developers Association's executive committee, Stewart Leung Chi-kin, said the body would write to the government next week to urge the relaxation of rules on importing labour. Unions and activists vehemently oppose such a move. But Leung argued it was necessary to keep rising construction costs in check, blaming high construction costs on labour shortages.

The problem could get worse. Hong Kong faces fierce competition from Macau for construction labourers, particularly skilled workers like bar-benders. Many contractors in Hong Kong are eager to win the lucrative contracts for casino projects, insiders say.