Business and labour groups disagree over importing construction workers

Business and labour interests are set for a face-off over importing foreign workers, which one lawmaker said the government was considering to fill an estimated shortage of 5,000 people in the construction industry.

A pro-business lawmaker, who refused to be named, said the government and unions were well aware of the shortage and officials were studying the possibility of importing labour.

A spokeswoman for the Labour and Welfare Bureau said it had "no such plan" to import foreign labour for the industry.

But the lawmaker said the idea was under study: "We are short of at least 5,000 workers. We do not want to rob local workers of their jobs, but let's face the fact and find a solution together."

The shortage was highlighted in yesterday's Legislative Council debate on the motion of thanks for Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's policy address, as a string of business-affiliated lawmakers piled on pressure for importing foreign labour.

Business and Professionals Alliance lawmaker Abraham Razack, who represents real estate and construction, said the shortage was delaying progress on infrastructure projects and increasing building costs. "The government should take a courageous political step and import foreign labour," he said.