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Hong Kong workers and labour rights

Hong Kong workers and labour rights
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Hong Kong workers and labour rights. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Hong Kong’s hospitality sector faces staffing shortages, but start-up Shift Happens is offering a recruitment solution. Photo: Jelly Tse
Food and Drinks

Need restaurant staff? Shift Happens is here to help

Since the pandemic, restaurants have had trouble finding staff – Roucou Cheese Omakase & Bar is among those that turned to Shift Happens.

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Students, workers, domestic helpers hit by Hong Kong fire get HK$20,000 payout

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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Portraits of courage: helpers who stayed with their wards during Hong Kong fire

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Accidents and personal safety

Hong Kong authorities launch probe into fatal industrial accident at sewage plant

Worker was operating concrete core drilling machine when his clothing became caught and strangled him.

The worker died at Tseung Kwan O Hospital, 10 hours after he collapsed in the basement of a sewage treatment plant in Wo Mei, Sai Kung. Photo: Winson Wong
Accidents and personal safety

Worker, 49, dies hours after collapsing at Hong Kong sewage treatment plant

Man was installing electric equipment in basement when colleagues found that he had collapsed.

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong construction, catering sectors pessimistic despite dip in unemployment

Sector representatives say lack of private projects and low pay cloud outlook for respective industries.

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Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong

No place to call home: plight of Hong Kong’s pregnant domestic helpers

Support groups say helpers who become pregnant often face losing their jobs, separation from babies.

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Illustration: Brian Wang
Accidents and personal safety

Hong Kong suspends contractor after worker falls from scaffolding and dies

Worker, 47, reportedly plunged from bamboo scaffolding nine storeys high at construction site in Sau Mau Ping.

Accidents and personal safety

Hong Kong suspends firm from using chainsaws after fatal workplace incident

Authorities investigating case of worker, 63, suspected to have died after injuring his leg with chainsaw near monastery.

Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Hong Kong must ensure labour import scheme does its job

Policymakers should make sure the scheme addresses the worker shortage in certain industries while also preventing abuse and keeping options open for local talent.

Workers fix scaffolding adjacent to a building in Causeway Bay as people eat at a restaurant, on April 1. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong economy

37,000 workers imported into Hong Kong since start of labour scheme in 2023

Labour and Welfare Bureau reveals latest figures as construction union announces wage freeze for 15 of 16 major trades in the industry.

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More than 11,000 of the approved imported workers were wait staff – the role with the highest number of imports – while 8,000 were junior cooks. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong society

No evidence talent abused schemes to give birth in Hong Kong: labour chief

Chris Sun urges people to treat newly arrived talent with respect, as they have gone through stringent vetting procedures.

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong’s Citybus raises staff salaries by 2.5%, matches rival KMB

Frontline staff, including bus drivers and non-supervisory employees, will get minimum increase of HK$600, firm says.

Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Domestic helper pay rates show balance emerging in Hong Kong market

Employer requirements for skills and experience are increasingly finding a match with helper demands for better pay and conditions.

A group of domestic helpers dance in Central on July 27. Photo: Sun Yeung
Hong Kong economy

Domestic helpers’ average wage rises 7.9% to HK$5,722 in 2025: Hong Kong survey

Employers willing to offer higher wages for helpers with Hong Kong experience, childcare or elderly care expertise, HelperChoice’s survey finds.

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, a survey has found. Photo: Sun Yeung
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s tightened imported labour rules still vex local workers

The city faces a paradox where business leaders repeatedly sound the alarm over labour shortages, yet many locals are struggling to find jobs.

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong increases domestic helpers’ monthly minimum wage by 2.2% to HK$5,100

Monthly minimum food allowance remains unchanged at HK$1,236, government says.

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Hong Kong weather

Hong Kong minister rejects call for law on work suspension during severe weather

Legislators say law would better protect workers, but labour chief Chris Sun stresses flexibility needed to ensure city can continue to function.

Super Typhoon Ragasa brought Hong Kong to a standstill. Some employees have complained about wages and leave days being deducted for not returning to work during typhoons, a lawmaker has said. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s John Lee rejects suspension mechanism idea for labour import scheme

City’s economic transformation is meant to help struggling firms, but locals must consider new employment opportunities in ‘period of choice’, he says.

Hong Kong economy

Halt labour imports for jobs in Hong Kong with high jobless rate, John Lee urged

Legislator and construction workers’ union suggest setting up mechanism that will apply to jobs beyond catering roles targeted in policy address.

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong to tighten labour import rules in catering sector, prioritise locals

New measures target the abuse of labour import scheme while improving delivery workers’ injury compensation.

The new measures will tighten restrictions on employers importing waiters and junior cooks under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme. Photo: Jelly Tse
John Lee policy address 2025

Hong Kong ‘to tighten controls on employers seeking to import labour’

Sources also say authorities will roll out more public works schemes to increase construction sector jobs, after a drop in private projects.

A worker cleans a window display in Central. Photo: Nora Tam
Swire Group

Hong Kong’s Swire Coca-Cola reinstates fired lorry driver after union strike

Union claims driver, who is a senior member, was unfairly dismissed, as media reports man allegedly knocked down woman in traffic accident.

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Accidents and personal safety

Worker, 26, dies after falling 7 floors at Hong Kong housing construction site

Man believed to be fastening screws when he fell at site on Castle Peak Road near Chau Tau in Lok Ma Chau.

Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong court orders Foodpanda to pay HK$1.3 million to rider injured in storm

Delivery platform found liable by High Court for failing to protect employee from unnecessary risk of injury during No 8 typhoon signal.

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On-demand food delivery platform Foodpanda has been ordered to pay more than HK$1.3 million in compensation to a worker who injured himself during a tropical storm five years ago. Photo: Warton Li
Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong

Charity urges live-in exemption for domestic helpers who give birth in Hong Kong

Pathfinders, which handles 16 pregnant helpers a month, say live-in rule can result in newborns being separated from mothers.

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Foreign domestic helpers on their day off in Central. Photo: Sun Yeung
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong restaurant hit with ban for firing local staff after importing workers

Top One Dance Club & Chinese Cuisine in Tsim Sha Tsui banned for two years from importing workers.

Hong Kong economy

Letters | Hong Kong must cook up labour solution that revives its culinary reputation

Readers discuss a labour import scheme, the staging of mega-sports events, poetry lessons in schools, and training for those required to report child abuse.

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