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Employment

Entry of Non-locals for Employment

Professionals

People who possess special skills, knowledge or experience of value to Hong Kong may apply to take up employment if they have secured a job that cannot be taken up readily by the local workforce and offers a remuneration package broadly commensurate with the prevailing market level. Entrepreneurs, including start-ups, are welcome to bring capital and expertise to Hong Kong if they can make a substantial contribution to the economy. In 2018, 55,360 people from more than 100 countries and territories were hired and established or joined a business in this way.

Students

Fresh graduates of full-time, locally accredited programmes at degree or higher level may apply to stay and work in Hong Kong for one year after graduation.

Returning non-local graduates may also apply to work in Hong Kong if the job they have secured is at a level commonly taken up by degree-holders and the remuneration package is at market level.

Supplementary Labour Scheme

Employers may apply to the Labour Department to import workers to fill vacancies at the technician level or below. All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. To ensure employment priority for local workers, employers must undertake a four-week open recruitment for each application. The department will then pass the application and its recommendation to members of the Labour Advisory Board for views, followed by the Commissioner for Labour for a decision.

As at December, 5,298 imported workers were working in Hong Kong under the scheme.

Foreign Domestic Helpers

Foreign domestic helpers may be admitted to work in Hong Kong if they and their employers satisfy the eligibility criteria, subject to immigration control. Employers must offer their helpers the terms of employment stipulated in the government-prescribed standard employment contract, including free and suitable accommodation with reasonable privacy at the employer's residence, free food or food 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.

As at December, Hong Kong had 386,075 foreign domestic helpers. Filipino and Indonesian helpers respectively accounted for 54.6 per cent and 43 per cent of all foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong.

Occupational Safety and Health

The Labour Department strives to improve occupational safety and health standards in the workplace through inspection and enforcement, publicity and promotion, and education and

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