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Gary Cheung

Discussions on the 'one-plus-three' plan end after strong opposition from labour unions concerned about local jobs

A proposal  to allow employers to hire three mainland workers for every new job they create for a Hong Kong worker has been dropped after strong opposition from unions.

Union and manufacturers' representatives agreed yesterday to end discussions on the 'one-plus-three' scheme - first proposed by business chambers - after meeting Stephen Ip Shu-kwan, the secretary for economic development and labour.

Confederation of Trade Unions chairman Lau Chin-shek, who took part in the meeting, said it was not an appropriate time to discuss the labour importation scheme because of bleak employment prospects and falling wages for local workers.

'There is no room for discussion because of our opposition,' he said.

Chan Yuen-han, vice-chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions, said manufacturers would gain huge benefits from zero-tariff treatment under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (Cepa).

'It will do Hong Kong society no good to discuss any labour importation scheme for the time being,' she said.

The idea had been under discussion for five years.

Employers had earlier pushed for a two-year trial scheme in which up to 5,000 workers would be imported. Many said they were keen to keep their research and design departments in Hong Kong because of better protection of intellectual property rights.

Last month Mr Ip said it was time to again consider a scheme for importing workers from the mainland with Hong Kong's economy showing healthy signs of recovery.

He said the government hoped that importing mainland workers would help create jobs for Hong Kong residents.

Chan Wing-kee, president of the Chinese Manufacturers Association of Hong Kong, said the two sides agreed to study plans to create more job opportunities for local workers after the implementation of the Cepa.

'Everything is open for discussion in the future if it is necessary to import some skilled workers who are in shortage in Hong Kong,' he said.

Mr Ip said the government would draft a paper assessing the impact of the Cepa deal on the employment prospects of Hong Kong workers. The government will also discuss with unions and manufacturers the conditions under which skilled workers could be imported in the future.

'Our overriding concern is to create more job opportunities for local workers when overseas manufacturers invest in the city,' Mr Ip said.

Meanwhile, 100 construction workers protested against the government's failure to tackle the problem of illegal workers during a rally at Chater Garden in Central yesterday.

They marched to the government's headquarters and smashed rice bowls to vent their anger.

The chairman of the Construction Industry Employees' General Union, Choi Chun-wa, urged the government to draft a blacklist of mainland travellers who worked illegally while visiting Hong Kong.

'The Immigration Department should limit the re-entry of those on the blacklist in the future,' he said.



Scheme to hire mainland workers dropped