Boost for Hong Kong aviation sector as authorities approve 2,900 applications from non-local workers to ease manpower shortage
- Among first round of 2,889 applications from 29 companies in aviation industry submitted last month, 2,841 were approved
- Dozens who failed did not meet basic requirements, while one application was rejected as proposed wage was lower than median for job
Hong Kong authorities have approved 98 per cent of nearly 2,900 applications from non-local aviation workers under a pilot scheme to import labour to ease a manpower shortage in the industry.
Among the 10 job categories included in the scheme are passenger service officers, ramp services agents, and aircraft mechanics or technicians, who made up more than half of the approved applications.
The Transport and Logistics Bureau on Monday gave the long-awaited green light after two weeks of scrutiny by a liaison group made up of representatives from the bureau, the Labour Department and the Airport Authority.
“We hope that imported labour will receive training and work in Hong Kong soon to relieve the acute manpower shortage in the aviation industry and support the continual recovery of the industry,” a bureau spokesman said.
Among the first round of 2,889 applications from 29 companies in the aviation industry submitted last month, 2,841 from 28 firms were approved.
The spokesman said those who failed to make the grade did not meet the basic requirements of the scheme. One application was rejected as the proposed wage was lower than the median for the job.