https://www.scmp.com/rss/524430/feed The latest news and updates on Lam Chun-sing, a prominent Hong Kong trade unionist and politician, currently serving as a Legislative Council member and Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions. He advocates for workers’ rights, addressing issues like unemployment, wage arrears, and the protection of part-time and gig workers. His work includes scrutinising employment legislation, proposing measures like pausing labour imports, and ensuring fair treatment for workers... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong employers could face punitive surcharges for failing to pay outstanding contributions to their staff members’ pension accounts for extended periods, with data showing only one in six bosses settled the arrears within the prescribed two-week deadline. The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA), which manages the city’s pension plans, said it was working on a “two-tier surcharge” mechanism proposal that it hoped to present to the government by the middle of the year. In a blog... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348298/mpf-authority-propose-2-tier-surcharges-late-employer-contributions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348298/mpf-authority-propose-2-tier-surcharges-late-employer-contributions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 10:18:10 +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 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s legislature has passed a motion thanking the city leader for his latest policy address, but some lawmakers have raised concerns about the import of labour amid rising unemployment while calling on him to defend the interests of residents. The Legislative Council concluded a three-day debate on Friday and passed a motion thanking Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu for his annual policy blueprint unveiled last month, in which he rolled out a new accountability system for department... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3328571/hong-kong-lawmakers-back-lees-blueprint-raise-fears-over-labour-imports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3328571/hong-kong-lawmakers-back-lees-blueprint-raise-fears-over-labour-imports?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 11:19:39 +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 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 The Hong Kong government is under mounting pressure to clarify the circumstances that warrant an “extreme conditions” announcement to prevent residents from commuting to work during hazardous weather, a day after record-breaking downpours wreaked havoc across the city. Some lawmakers and labour union leaders called for further clarification on Wednesday after residents expressed confusion as to whether they should have headed to work during the torrential downpours. The highest-level black... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320984/hong-kong-urged-clarify-extreme-conditions-criteria-after-record-rainfall?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320984/hong-kong-urged-clarify-extreme-conditions-criteria-after-record-rainfall?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Aug 2025 11:22:24 +0000 Fiona Sun,Leopold Chen Fiona Sun,Leopold Chen Hong Kong authorities have urged workers to take retraining courses to join sectors short of staff as two more restaurants announced their coming closure, with officials saying that halting the importation of labour will not improve the job market. Undersecretary for Labour and Welfare Ho Kai-ming made the call on Saturday after Star Seafood and Roasted Goose Restaurant at Chuk Yuen Plaza in Wong Tai Sin announced that it would shut down next month. “The Labour Department has received workers’... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319685/50-workers-seek-hk600000-unpaid-wages-another-restaurant-set-close-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319685/50-workers-seek-hk600000-unpaid-wages-another-restaurant-set-close-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 07:34:45 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong travel agencies have not recorded widespread cancellations of Japan-bound tour groups for the coming weekend, despite a manga artist’s widely discussed prediction that a mega-earthquake will hit the country on Saturday. But some business insiders suggested the number of tours this summer was expected to fall by half compared with last year. The Japan National Tourism Organisation reported that only 193,100 visitors from Hong Kong were recorded coming to the country in May, down by 11.2... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3316710/hong-kong-tourists-undeterred-manga-prediction-quake-will-hit-japan-july-5?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3316710/hong-kong-tourists-undeterred-manga-prediction-quake-will-hit-japan-july-5?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 03:37:54 +0000