The controversial new policy on importing foreign workers has caused a great response in Hong Kong society in recent days. Foreign workers in the construction industry have complained one after another about being exploited by unscrupulous employers, including being charged intermediary fees by intermediary companies, being forced to work overtime without water compensation, and being paid black market wages far below the contract. At the same time, local workers in the industry have also complained that the market downturn has led to a sharp drop in project volume, and unemployment has gradually emerged. They complain that the government is still importing a large number of foreign workers, which is like adding insult to injury.
Hong Kong's construction projects have dropped significantly, but the import of foreign workers has increased 20 times
To quell growing public outrage, the Development Bureau recently halted approvals for a new round of applications. However, officials revealed that since the program launched in July last year, 9,731 of the 12,000 quotas have been granted. This number of foreign workers approved represents a 20-fold increase compared to the 480 approved the previous year (2022). Why this astonishing increase? Has the sudden surge in Hong Kong's construction industry necessitated a massive importation of foreign workers to meet demand? The reality is quite the opposite: Hong Kong's property market remains sluggish, and private housing construction projects are facing a significant decline – a fact we all witness daily.
