Labour chief rejects foreign workers link to middle-aged unemployment

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han has rejected suggestions that a rise in unemployment among middle-aged workers is linked to foreign labor imports, noting that such workers account for less than one percent of Hong Kong’s total workforce.

Speaking at a Legislative Council meeting yesterday, Sun emphasized that the government’s foreign labor policy is grounded in the principle of prioritizing local employment.

Lawmaker Chau Siu-chung noted that among all age groups, the unemployment rate for those aged 55 to 59 has seen the most sustained and significant increase.

He questioned whether the government had evaluated if the surge in unemployment among this demographic resulted from increased competition due to foreign labor policies and various talent admission schemes.

In response, Sun pointed out that only around 32,000 workers are in Hong Kong under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme – less than 1 percent of the workforce of over three million – indicating a minimal overall impact.

Lawmaker Gary Chan Hak-kan also raised concerns about information asymmetry in the job market and asked how the government plans to improve employment matching rates.

Sun said the Labour Department will work with community partners and leverage available resources to enhance the efficiency of the job market and support workforce development.