https://www.scmp.com/rss/515585/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Experts have warned that the HK$1 (13 US cents) increase in Hong Kong’s minimum wage, which takes effect on Labour Day, is unlikely to significantly boost low-paid workers’ incomes, but should help preserve purchasing power and ease labour tensions under a new formula. Human resources expert Alexa Chow Yee-ping, managing director of ACTS Consulting, said the latest rise broadly aligned with recent pay trends. “The actual impact is not significant, as the increase is roughly the same as last... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352069/hk1-minimum-wage-rise-unlikely-significantly-lift-low-paid-incomes-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352069/hk1-minimum-wage-rise-unlikely-significantly-lift-low-paid-incomes-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 03:01:00 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial China has the world’s largest army of gig workers, numbering 200 million. Many work long hours under harsh conditions with unpredictable pay. Beijing is now drawing up regulations to offer better protection. Hong Kong, which also has a substantial number of gig workers, will follow suit after pledging improvement last year. Those workers form the backbone of China’s rising consumer society, yet they enjoy few benefits, unlike full-time staff. Technology-driven businesses have outrun legislation,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351944/china-moves-towards-better-protecting-its-gig-workers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351944/china-moves-towards-better-protecting-its-gig-workers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Brian Wong,Leopold Chen Brian Wong,Leopold Chen A Labour Department official has told an inquiry into Hong Kong’s deadly Tai Po inferno that the temporary removal of fireproof windows from emergency passages in the blaze-hit estate complied with occupational safety protocols, triggering questions on whether the interests of workers and residents are at odds. The inquiry also heard on Tuesday that a department officer had misled Wang Fuk Court residents by claiming the fire resistance of renovation material was outside the purview of the law,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350910/tai-po-blaze-probe-temporary-removal-fireproof-windows-complied-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350910/tai-po-blaze-probe-temporary-removal-fireproof-windows-complied-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:32:49 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow Hong Kong’s labour authorities have expanded heat stress monitoring to include data from 10 sites, enabling faster alerts to better safeguard outdoor workers. Deputy Commissioner for Labour Vincent Fung Hao-yin said on Monday that the department would incorporate data from the Observatory’s newly added monitoring stations at eight sites across the city. The move is intended to provide a more accurate picture of heat stress levels for issuing warnings when outdoor workers should take breaks of at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349913/hong-kong-expands-heat-stress-monitoring-better-protect-outdoor-workers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349913/hong-kong-expands-heat-stress-monitoring-better-protect-outdoor-workers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:40:34 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Most Hong Kong bosses are law-abiding, but inevitably there are dodgy ones who don’t contribute their share of employee pension on time. They may need to face a greater penalty. Worrying data from the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) shows that only one in six employers settled the arrears within the two-week deadline. As a result, the authority now proposes more punitive surcharges in such cases. It’s about time. The current penalty is too lenient. At present, the surcharge for... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348656/mpf-scheme-must-move-times-better-meet-worker-needs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348656/mpf-scheme-must-move-times-better-meet-worker-needs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s poor industrial safety record has been tainted by yet another fatal accident. The tower crane collapse that killed the 62-year-old operator at a Kwai Chung public housing construction site on Thursday once again shone the spotlight on the city’s poor work safety culture and slack supervision. With major construction work now under way at the Northern Metropolis and other development projects, it is time for a solemn reflection. Despite a wealth of guidelines and safeguards enshrined... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347310/hong-kongs-development-push-must-not-come-cost-human-life?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347310/hong-kongs-development-push-must-not-come-cost-human-life?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s jobless rate dipped by 0.1 percentage point over the past three months to 3.8 per cent, with unemployment dropping in the retail, accommodation, and foundation and superstructure sectors. “The sustained growth momentum of the Hong Kong economy should continue to support the overall labour market, though employment situations in some local sectors may still face challenges due to their business performances,” Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Wednesday. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347046/hong-kongs-jobless-rate-falls-01-percentage-point?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347046/hong-kongs-jobless-rate-falls-01-percentage-point?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:34:43 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing More than 400 foreign domestic helpers gathered at an international school campus in Hong Kong on Friday as 50 students paid tribute to their contributions as “second mothers” who help shape a multicultural environment at home. The organising student committee for the event at the English Schools Foundation’s Renaissance College in Ma On Shan said it hoped to inspire the wider community to cherish their domestic workers. The “Jie Jie Day” event, held annually by the school for 14 years, was also... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346551/hong-kong-students-honour-over-400-foreign-domestic-helpers-second-mothers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346551/hong-kong-students-honour-over-400-foreign-domestic-helpers-second-mothers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:39:11 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong authorities have arrested 20 people, including domestic helpers suspected of unlawfully providing services such as massages and manicures, in a crackdown on illegal labour. The Immigration Department said that it conducted a three-day operation across the city between Sunday and Tuesday, searching 19 target locations, including restaurants, care homes, hotels, commercial and industrial buildings and public places. Officers arrested 20 people, including 14 suspected illegal workers or... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346116/11-domestic-helpers-among-20-arrested-hong-kong-crackdown-illegal-labour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346116/11-domestic-helpers-among-20-arrested-hong-kong-crackdown-illegal-labour?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:13:08 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong labour authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal industrial accident involving a worker who fell to his death from the third floor of a food factory while setting up scaffolding. The police force received a report at around 1.30pm on Tuesday that a 57-year-old worker had fallen from support brackets on the facade of a food factory at No 14 Dai Fu Street. The victim, who fell unconscious, was rushed to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in the district. He was later... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344460/hong-kong-authorities-probe-death-scaffolding-worker-who-fell-factory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344460/hong-kong-authorities-probe-death-scaffolding-worker-who-fell-factory?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:09:44 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Sanju*, a foreign domestic helper of Nepalese ethnicity, never imagined her Hong Kong dream would turn into a nightmare. The 34-year-old arrived in Hong Kong in 2023, driven by a simple wish to work in the city of her dreams. But she said her first employer paid her 30 per cent below the statutory minimum wage, allowed her only two hours of sleep a day, and gave her just three rest days over six months, during which she was only paid two months’ salary. After six months, she was dismissed and... https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3344257/silent-suffering-how-domestic-helpers-hong-kong-dream-became-nightmare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3344257/silent-suffering-how-domestic-helpers-hong-kong-dream-became-nightmare?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 10:04:53 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Living on the minimum wage can be challenging in a city known for its notoriously high cost of living. Even though the statutory wage floor is meant to be a safety net for the lowest paid workers, many of them still face financial hardship, so much so that they may have to scale back on food and other expenses or work multiple jobs to survive. Their plight is often not appreciated by people who are well above the breadline. Whether a 2.38 per cent pay rise makes a decent offer in the current... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3343980/minimum-wage-rises-must-not-leave-behind-hong-kongs-most-vulnerable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3343980/minimum-wage-rises-must-not-leave-behind-hong-kongs-most-vulnerable?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong plumber Anson Hui Po-lung is ready to work through his Lunar New Year break to make ends meet, after struggling since the citywide removal of scaffolding nets began in early December following the deadly blaze at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court. Twenty public housing projects and 230 private buildings undergoing major maintenance had to suspend facade work after the removal of the nets, threatening the livelihoods of about 700 workers for more than two months. As of mid-February, only 19... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343838/hong-kong-workers-hit-halt-facade-repairs-after-deadly-tai-po-fire-overhaul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343838/hong-kong-workers-hit-halt-facade-repairs-after-deadly-tai-po-fire-overhaul?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s lowest-paid workers are set to receive a pay rise of HK$1 per hour, from the current HK$42.10 (US$5.40) to HK$43.10, as recommended by the government’s top decision-making body, with the new rate expected to come into force as early as May. The government announced on Tuesday that the Executive Council had adopted the proposal from the Minimum Wage Commission (MWC), which had suggested the 2.38 per cent increase. The amendment will be tabled in the legislature on February 25. Subject... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3343063/hong-kongs-minimum-wage-set-rise-hk1-hour-hk4310?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3343063/hong-kongs-minimum-wage-set-rise-hk1-hour-hk4310?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:24:43 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words The government’s recent move to close the loophole in part-time employee protection is a welcome step. By removing the 18 hours-a-week threshold for benefits and shifting the focus to total monthly hours from January 18, the Labour Department is finally ensuring part-time workers... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3338874/besides-part-time-employees-hong-kong-should-protect-gig-workers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3338874/besides-part-time-employees-hong-kong-should-protect-gig-workers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 03:30:11 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow The number of deaths from workplace accidents in Hong Kong rose to a record 118 this year, including 16 killed in the deadly Tai Po fire, with a union calling for full transparency in investigation reports and heavier penalties on those found liable. The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims on Tuesday revealed that the 118 deaths stemmed from 102 accidents in 2025 across various industries, including sectors in construction, logistics and transport. Ten domestic helpers,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3337487/heavier-penalties-urged-job-deaths-hong-kong-rise-55-118?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3337487/heavier-penalties-urged-job-deaths-hong-kong-rise-55-118?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:30:15 +0000 Charlotte Shore Charlotte Shore Hong Kong’s hospitality sector faces a critical challenge: there are 25 per cent fewer full-time staff post-pandemic, according to figures from the city’s Hotels Association. For restaurants and hotels striving to recover from pandemic losses, this shortage threatens their ability to bounce back and maintain service quality for more cost-conscious and discerning clientele. The problem is compounded by a fundamental shift in the workforce. Many workers left Hong Kong during the pandemic, and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3336582/service-how-new-digital-platform-hong-kong-shift-happens-tackling-staffing-crisis-hospitality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3336582/service-how-new-digital-platform-hong-kong-shift-happens-tackling-staffing-crisis-hospitality?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:00:14 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Students, workers and domestic helpers affected by the deadly Hong Kong blaze that claimed 151 lives will each receive a payout of HK$20,000 (US$2,570) as part of government relief efforts. And donations to the government’s relief fund have reached HK$1.6 billion, reflecting strong public support for the victims. The authorities on Monday also announced grants ranging from HK$50,000 to HK$100,000 for the dozens of people injured in the fire. Aid continued to pour in from the authorities and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334812/students-workers-and-domestic-helpers-hit-hong-kong-fire-get-hk20000-payout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334812/students-workers-and-domestic-helpers-hit-hong-kong-fire-get-hk20000-payout?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:56:22 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Ambrose Li Matthew Cheng,Ambrose Li As Hong Kong reels from its deadliest fire in decades, a highly visible community of foreigners is also in mourning as it awaits for news of the fate of nearly 80 of its own who remain missing. They are the domestic helpers who remain unaccounted for five days after the blaze, among more than 200 working in Wang Fuk Court, the site of the inferno that has claimed at least 128 lives. Seven Indonesians and a Filipino were confirmed dead, while three others were injured, according to the consulates... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334629/portraits-courage-helpers-who-stayed-their-wards-during-hong-kong-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334629/portraits-courage-helpers-who-stayed-their-wards-during-hong-kong-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 12:59:43 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong labour authorities have launched an investigation into the death of a 49-year-old worker who was strangled by his clothing when it became caught in a machine. The Labour Department announced the inquiry on Sunday following the man’s death at Tseung Kwan O Hospital the night before, 10 hours after he collapsed in the basement of a sewage treatment plant in Wo Mei, Sai Kung. According to the department, the worker’s clothes became caught in a concrete core drilling machine he was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3333829/hong-kong-authorities-launch-probe-fatal-industrial-accident-sewage-plant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3333829/hong-kong-authorities-launch-probe-fatal-industrial-accident-sewage-plant?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 04:18:54 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen A contract worker died in hospital hours after collapsing in the basement of a sewage treatment plant on Saturday, with Hong Kong’s Drainage Services Department ordering his employer to investigate. Department director Ringo Mok Wing-cheong expressed sorrow over the death of the worker and urged the contractor to provide appropriate help to the man’s family, halt the project and investigate the case. The victim, a 49-year-old man surnamed Tam, was installing electric equipment in the basement of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3333816/worker-49-dies-hours-after-collapsing-hong-kong-sewage-treatment-plant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3333816/worker-49-dies-hours-after-collapsing-hong-kong-sewage-treatment-plant?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:14:16 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s construction and catering sectors remain pessimistic about their recovery, despite a decline in unemployment rates, citing a lack of new private development projects and unattractive wages for junior positions in the food and beverage industry. Two industry representatives made the remarks on Thursday, after the government announced the latest unemployment figure of 3.8 per cent for the past three months, the first drop since mid-2023. The latest rate is 0.1 percentage points lower... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3333503/hong-kong-construction-catering-sectors-pessimistic-despite-dip-unemployment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3333503/hong-kong-construction-catering-sectors-pessimistic-despite-dip-unemployment?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 05:46:22 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun At five months pregnant, domestic helper Daisy* was kicked out of her Hong Kong employer’s home one night without warning. Distraught and alone, the 32-year-old called home in Mindanao, the Philippines, crying over what had happened to her. “It was in the middle of the night. I felt so scared as I was pregnant and I had no family or friends here I could turn to,” Daisy recalled. She had arrived in Hong Kong in 2023 to work for a local couple who had a seven-year-old son but fell pregnant last... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3331689/no-place-call-home-plight-hong-kongs-pregnant-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3331689/no-place-call-home-plight-hong-kongs-pregnant-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:30:27 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong authorities have suspended a contractor from tendering for any public works projects and launched an investigation after a worker fell to his death from bamboo scaffolding at a construction site. Without naming the company, the Development Bureau said on Monday that it had suspended the contractor of the site from tendering for public works contracts in the buildings category with immediate effect. The contractor has also been required to conduct an independent safety audit to review... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3331239/hong-kong-construction-worker-dies-after-falling-scaffolding-site?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3331239/hong-kong-construction-worker-dies-after-falling-scaffolding-site?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Nov 2025 11:42:47 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong authorities have suspended a firm from using electric chainsaws for tree-related work while investigating the death of a 63-year-old employee, who was found to have injured his leg with the device near a monastery. The Labour Department said on Thursday that it was “highly concerned” about the incident that had occurred the previous day. Police said that an autopsy was under way to determine the exact cause of death. Police said they had received a report at about 5.45pm on Wednesday... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3330949/hong-kong-suspends-firm-using-chainsaws-after-fatal-workplace-incident?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3330949/hong-kong-suspends-firm-using-chainsaws-after-fatal-workplace-incident?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:00:44 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Balancing labour supply and demand has been a challenge for Hong Kong as it scrambles to ensure it has the workforce needed to keep its economic growth on track, as well as advance local and national development goals. So, authorities and industry leaders must carefully examine the latest tally for the city’s import labour scheme. A timely review of labour needs must be done so the programme does its job, countering chronic shortages in a fast-changing global environment. The city has imported... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3330579/hong-kong-must-ensure-labour-import-scheme-does-its-job?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3330579/hong-kong-must-ensure-labour-import-scheme-does-its-job?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong has imported more than 37,000 workers since the government introduced a labour scheme two years ago, while a construction union has announced a wage freeze for most of the major trades in the industry. The Labour and Welfare Bureau on Wednesday revealed that it had received applications to import more than 62,000 workers in the catering and hospitality industries since the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme was launched in 2023. Between September 4, 2023, and September 30 this year,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3329943/37000-workers-imported-hong-kong-start-labour-scheme-2023?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3329943/37000-workers-imported-hong-kong-start-labour-scheme-2023?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:32:21 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Hong Kong’s labour chief has dismissed suggestions that newly arrived talent are exploiting admission schemes to give birth in the city, saying no evidence or data supports such claims. He called on society to treat the professionals with respect, as they had gone through stringent vetting procedures. “Based on the numbers of newborns in the past two years, as well as our exchanges with different organisations, we did not see such things happening,” Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3329157/no-evidence-talent-abused-schemes-give-birth-hong-kong-labour-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3329157/no-evidence-talent-abused-schemes-give-birth-hong-kong-labour-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 14:10:49 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong franchised bus operator Citybus has raised salaries for its frontline staff by 2.5 per cent, matching the pay increase offered to all employees by rival KMB. Citybus, the second-largest franchised bus operator in Hong Kong after KMB, said it had considered factors, such as labour market trends, when adjusting wages and was hopeful the increase would boost morale among staff. Frontline staff, including bus drivers and non-supervisory staff, will receive a guaranteed minimum increase of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3327669/hong-kongs-citybus-raises-staff-salaries-25-matches-rival-kmb?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3327669/hong-kongs-citybus-raises-staff-salaries-25-matches-rival-kmb?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 11:59:55 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Occupational pay rises spark debate about whether they are fair to either employees or their bosses. The domestic helper market is no exception. Helper advocates have expressed disappointment with the latest pay rise of 2.2 per cent in monthly minimum salary to HK$5,100 (US$655), against their calls for rises of up to 30 per cent to HK$6,500. There was also disappointment with the freezing of the food allowance at HK$1,236 for the second consecutive year. A local employers’ group, however, had... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3327485/domestic-helper-pay-rates-show-balance-emerging-hong-kong-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3327485/domestic-helper-pay-rates-show-balance-emerging-hong-kong-market?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 23:15:13 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong The average monthly salary offered to domestic helpers in Hong Kong has increased by 7.9 per cent to HK$5,722 (US$735) compared with the previous year, according to a survey by a local recruitment platform. HelperChoice, which released the survey findings on Monday, said that the upwards trend in wages reflected a growing willingness among employers to offer competitive salaries to hire experienced helpers, particularly those already based in Hong Kong. “In 2025, we’re seeing a noticeable shift... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3327353/domestic-helpers-average-monthly-pay-rises-79-hk5722-2025-hong-kong-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3327353/domestic-helpers-average-monthly-pay-rises-79-hk5722-2025-hong-kong-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 06:24:31 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Nepali-Hongkonger Gurung has been on the job market for four months and feels he is hitting a dead end. He has been in Hong Kong for more than three decades, but this is his worst stretch of being unemployed, the fifty-something said. After losing his construction job in June this year, Gurung, who uses his surname as the name by which his friends address him, found himself competing in a market where he felt increasingly disadvantaged. At his last project at the airport earlier this year, he... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327292/why-hong-kongs-tightened-imported-labour-rules-still-rankle-local-workers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327292/why-hong-kongs-tightened-imported-labour-rules-still-rankle-local-workers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:30:09 +0000 Willa Wu,Danny Mok Willa Wu,Danny Mok Domestic helpers in Hong Kong will have their monthly minimum salary increased by 2.2 per cent to HK$5,100 (US$655) for employment contracts signed on or after Tuesday, the government has announced. But the monthly food allowance would remain unchanged at no less than HK$1,236 if their employers chose not to provide free food, it added on Monday. A local employers’ group had earlier called for a freeze on the minimum salaries of domestic helpers amid the economic slowdown, even as some unions... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327248/hong-kong-ups-monthly-minimum-wage-foreign-domestic-helpers-22-hk5100?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327248/hong-kong-ups-monthly-minimum-wage-foreign-domestic-helpers-22-hk5100?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 09:37:48 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s labour minister has ruled out legislating the arrangements for suspending work during times of adverse weather, saying the move would hinder the functioning of society and the early return to normality. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han rejected the call on Thursday as some lawmakers urged authorities to better protect workers during inclement weather, after Super Typhoon Ragasa wreaked havoc across the city. Sun said different industries and jobs were... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3326819/hong-kong-minister-rejects-work-suspension-legislation-adverse-weather?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3326819/hong-kong-minister-rejects-work-suspension-legislation-adverse-weather?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 08:31:05 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s leader has ruled out introducing a suspension mechanism for the city’s labour importation scheme or fining employers for abusing the policy despite calls to further tighten rules to mitigate rising joblessness in some sectors. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Sunday the city was undergoing an economic transformation, but locals facing job challenges must also decide whether to take up new employment opportunities in this “period of choice”. His remarks came days after he... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326291/hong-kongs-john-lee-rejects-suspension-mechanism-idea-labour-import-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326291/hong-kongs-john-lee-rejects-suspension-mechanism-idea-labour-import-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 07:08:18 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong authorities have been urged to set up a mechanism to suspend the importation of labour for certain jobs when their unemployment rate hits a threshold, after the city leader announced tighter importing rules for only two catering roles. The appeal was made by a construction workers’ union and a lawmaker on Thursday, after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the new rules on the importation of waiters and junior cooks in his policy speech on Wednesday. Lee told lawmakers on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326022/halt-labour-imports-jobs-hong-kong-high-unemployment-rate-john-lee-urged?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326022/halt-labour-imports-jobs-hong-kong-high-unemployment-rate-john-lee-urged?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 11:47:47 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong authorities will strengthen protection for local workers by tightening restrictions on employers importing waiters and junior cooks, while enacting legislation to better protect delivery workers. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced in his policy address on Wednesday that the government would prioritise the employment of local workers and crack down on abuse of a labour importation scheme. The new restrictions will apply to two job categories – waiter and junior cook – under the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325911/hong-kong-tighten-labour-import-rules-catering-sector-prioritise-locals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325911/hong-kong-tighten-labour-import-rules-catering-sector-prioritise-locals?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:02:05 +0000 Emily Hung,Edith Lin,Olga Wong Emily Hung,Edith Lin,Olga Wong Hong Kong authorities are set to tighten controls on employers seeking to import labour under a scheme following complaints of local workers being replaced, with measures to be proposed in the city leader’s policy address, the Post has learned. Government sources said that authorities would roll out more public works projects to increase jobs in the construction sector, an area hit hard by a significant drop in private developments. With the unemployment rate climbing between May and July to a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325403/hong-kong-tighten-controls-employers-seeking-import-labour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325403/hong-kong-tighten-controls-employers-seeking-import-labour?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Sep 2025 02:30:08 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s Swire Coca-Cola has agreed to reinstate a fired lorry driver after workers staged a strike, with a union claiming the employee’s sacking had constituted an “unfair dismissal” and discrimination against one of its members. The company’s decision followed a three-hour discussion with staff representatives on Friday night. The Swire Beverages (HK) Employees General Union later called for members to return to work on Saturday and called off any further industrial action. The union... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324568/hong-kongs-swire-coca-cola-reinstates-fired-lorry-driver-after-union-strike?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324568/hong-kongs-swire-coca-cola-reinstates-fired-lorry-driver-after-union-strike?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 15:02:25 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying A 26-year-old man has died in a fatal industrial incident in Hong Kong after falling seven storeys at a public housing construction site in the north of the city. Police said on Thursday that they received a report at around 10.30am about an industrial incident on Castle Peak Road near Chau Tau in Lok Ma Chau. The worker was believed to have been fastening screws at the site when he fell from a height of about seven storeys onto the podium on the second floor, the force said. He was unconscious... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324326/worker-26-dies-after-7-storey-fall-hong-kong-public-housing-construction-site?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324326/worker-26-dies-after-7-storey-fall-hong-kong-public-housing-construction-site?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 08:25:12 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong court has ordered on-demand food delivery platform Foodpanda to pay more than HK$1.3 million (US$167,000) in compensation to a worker who injured himself during a tropical storm five years ago, ruling that the company failed to ensure the employee’s safety in extreme weather. The High Court on Wednesday ruled in favour of Farooq Ahmed Khan after finding his former employer had exposed him to an unnecessary risk of injury due to the absence of a safe working protocol. Khan, 53, was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3324225/hong-kong-court-orders-foodpanda-pay-hk13-million-rider-injured-storm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3324225/hong-kong-court-orders-foodpanda-pay-hk13-million-rider-injured-storm?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 12:30:26 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A charity has called for an exemption to the live-in rule for domestic helpers who give birth in Hong Kong, saying newborns can be separated from their mothers because of the requirement. A report released on Monday by the charity Pathfinders also called for the implementation of training and guidelines for employers to prevent maternity-related issues. The group supports migrant mothers and their children and handles about 16 pregnant clients a month. “The reality is, if a pregnancy happens,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323956/hong-kong-charity-urges-live-exemption-domestic-helpers-who-give-birth-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323956/hong-kong-charity-urges-live-exemption-domestic-helpers-who-give-birth-city?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 13:10:12 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong authorities have banned a restaurant from bringing in staff from outside the city for two years after finding it sacked local employees and used imported workers. On top of the ban, authorities will also cancel the in-principle approval previously granted to the restaurant, which specialises in banquets, to import staff. The restaurant has been hit with the heaviest penalty allowed under existing policy, according to Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han. “We hope to send... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3323682/hong-kong-restaurant-hit-ban-firing-local-staff-after-importing-workers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3323682/hong-kong-restaurant-hit-ban-firing-local-staff-after-importing-workers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Aug 2025 11:13:20 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification I refer to your front-page report, “Catering, retail hit as jobless rate rises to 33-month high” (August 20), which mentioned the secretary for labour and welfare’s additional requirements that the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3323302/hong-kong-must-cook-labour-solution-revives-its-culinary-reputation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3323302/hong-kong-must-cook-labour-solution-revives-its-culinary-reputation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 03:30:29 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong authorities have identified another suspected case of an employer dismissing local workers and importing staff, after earlier this month sanctioning a firm that violated labour rules. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Saturday that findings would be announced as soon as an investigation into the case had been completed. “Our initial review shows significant evidence that the employer hired non-local labour but fired a local worker,” he said in a televised... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322934/1-more-hong-kong-firm-suspected-have-fired-locals-after-importing-workers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322934/1-more-hong-kong-firm-suspected-have-fired-locals-after-importing-workers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 13:16:13 +0000 Elisha M. Sonthra,David Yu Chak-wai Elisha M. Sonthra,David Yu Chak-wai The arrest of six Filipino domestic helpers for running an unlicensed dental clinic in Sham Shui Po has exposed a troubling reality about healthcare inequality in Hong Kong. While the raid was hailed as a victory against “illegal labour activities”, this overlooked the desperation that drives people to seek dental care from untrained practitioners who taught themselves using YouTube videos. The facts suggest not a criminal enterprise but a form of community self-help. Treatments reportedly cost... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3322855/hong-kongs-black-market-dental-care-wont-be-fixed-arresting-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3322855/hong-kongs-black-market-dental-care-wont-be-fixed-arresting-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 04:00:18 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong The widow of a lift repairman who died last year after working for 59 hours straight is planning to take legal action against her late husband’s employer, as an advocacy group raised concerns about the city’s lack of laws protecting against overwork. The widow, who only wished to be identified as Mrs Chan, said on Wednesday that her late husband, Chan Ka-yee, had worked for Sigma Elevator for more than 25 years before he died in July last year at the age of 59. “He left for work at around 7am on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322569/widow-hong-kong-repairman-who-died-after-working-59-hours-plans-legal-action?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322569/widow-hong-kong-repairman-who-died-after-working-59-hours-plans-legal-action?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:47:32 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Pricey dental care and a lack of services on Sundays have left Hong Kong’s foreign domestic helpers desperate for affordable options, NGOs and unions have said, following the arrest of six women earlier this week for allegedly operating an illegal clinic. A lawmaker also said on Wednesday that one solution was for the city to adopt a similar policy to Singapore, where employers are required to buy comprehensive medical insurance, including dental care, for their helpers. Earlier this week, Hong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322556/pricey-dental-care-lack-options-sundays-leave-hong-kong-helpers-desperate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322556/pricey-dental-care-lack-options-sundays-leave-hong-kong-helpers-desperate?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 13:11:02 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The need to fulfil work commitments while looking after a family is a challenge familiar to many employees. It brings stresses and strains which often damage the health and well-being of both the worker and their relatives. Hong Kong is lagging behind in the provision of flexible family-friendly policies in the workplace. Around 90 per cent of human resources professionals reported their organisations lack relevant guidelines, according to an Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) survey. Up to 45... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3322186/family-friendly-workplaces-would-be-win-win-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3322186/family-friendly-workplaces-would-be-win-win-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung One in three eczema patients in Hong Kong experienced workplace hostility, including exclusion or mockery by colleagues due to their condition, a survey by the Medical and Health Advancement Federation has found. The survey released on Sunday aimed to raise awareness of the physical and mental challenges faced by eczema patients, who accounted for 20 per cent of the population. The federation conducted the survey between June and July this year, interviewing 240 people who were employed and had... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322142/1-3-eczema-patients-hong-kong-face-workplace-hostility-poll?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322142/1-3-eczema-patients-hong-kong-face-workplace-hostility-poll?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Aug 2025 11:59:52 +0000