ENG-2009 — Page 184

132 | Employment

employment in Hong Kong, as long as they have secured a job that cannot be readily taken up by the local workforce and receive a remuneration package broadly commensurate with those in the market. Business people and entrepreneurs who can make substantial contribution to the economy are also welcome to bring capital and expertise to Hong Kong. During the year, 27 502 people with special talents and professionals from more than 100 countries or territories were admitted for employment.

Employment of Non-local Students

Since May 19, 2008, non-local fresh graduates of full-time locally-accredited degree, or higher level, studies may apply to stay for one year in Hong Kong to take up employment. Those who have previously obtained a degree or higher qualification in a full-time locally-accredited programme in Hong Kong may also apply to return to Hong Kong for employment if the job they have secured is of the category normally taken up by degree-holders and pays market rates.

Supplementary Labour Scheme

Under the Supplementary Labour Scheme, employers may apply to import workers to fill vacancies at technician level or below. The Government's policy on importation of labour is based on two cardinal principles:

• local workers must be given priority in filling job vacancies available in the market; and

employers who are genuinely unable to recruit local workers to fill their vacancies should be allowed to import workers.

All applications made under the scheme are considered on a case-by-case basis. To ensure priority of employment for local workers, each application to import workers has to comply with three procedural requirements before it is submitted to the Labour Advisory Board for consideration and to the Government for a decision.

The requirements are: advertising in newspapers, job-matching by the Labour Department for four weeks, and organising retraining courses with the assistance of the Employees Retraining Board for local workers, if appropriate.

At the end of 2009, there were 1 595 imported workers working in Hong Kong.

Foreign Domestic Helpers

Foreign domestic helpers may be admitted if they have relevant working experience and if their employers are Hong Kong residents who are prepared to offer terms of employment as stipulated in the standard employment contract prescribed by the Government, including free and suitable accommodation, free meals or meal allowance in lieu, wages not lower than the minimum allowable wage set by the Government, free passage from and to the helper's place of origin and free medical treatment. Employers must also meet the requirements on income and

assets.