Airport staff union suggests improving local workers' welfare over importing labour

Sources have stated that the government mulls launching a special scheme to hire foreign airport workers, such as ground staff and baggage handlers, leading to objections from the Staffs and Workers Union of Hong Kong Civil Airlines.

The union said the authorities should instead focus on retaining local manpower and attracting new workers by increasing salaries and their welfare.

It added that the Airport Authority should provide transportation services for the employees to facilitate them reaching their workplace, along with offering more traffic and transport subsidies.

Li Wing-foo, the union chairman, said that the government should not focus on filling the current vacancies by hiring foreign labour but not training the local staff, as it is not a long-term plan to address the manpower shortage issue.