Hong Kong – July 24, 2025 — The Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) unveiled a comprehensive policy proposal today, urging the government to enhance labor protections, especially for foreign workers, and to reevaluate the importation of foreign labor in sectors grappling with rising unemployment.
The FTU presented 43 policy recommendations as part of its input for Chief Executive John Lee’s upcoming Policy Address. Key proposals include legislating retirement and work-related injury protection for food delivery drivers and ride-hailing app drivers, extending parental leave, expanding worker compensation schemes, and reducing tunnel tolls for commercial vehicles.
Protection for Platform Workers
FTU Chairman Lam Chun-sing proposed legislation similar to Singapore’s recent “Platform Workers Act” to protect the rights of foreign economy workers. He urged the government to mandate that platform-based companies contribute to workers’ retirement funds (MPF) and purchase occupational injury insurance on their behalf. “These workers fall in between traditional employment and self-employment. They deserve legal protections,” Lam stated.
Expansion of the Bankruptcy Fund
With a growing number of business closures affecting employees’ MPF contributions, the FTU also called for the Bankruptcy Wage Protection Fund to be expanded to cover unpaid employer MPF contributions. Lam noted that over HK$10 million in MPF dues were left unpaid last year. “With over HK$7 billion in the fund, the government has the capacity to support workers left vulnerable by company shutdowns,” he said.
Suspension of Foreign Worker Importation
FTU Secretary-General Chau Siu-chung raised concerns about oversupply in the labor market, particularly in the construction and catering sectors. According to Chau, government-approved quotas for importing over 60,000 foreign workers—28,000 in catering and more than 8,000 in construction—have coincided with a jump in unemployment.
Recent figures show the unemployment rate in construction has climbed to 6.8%, affecting 8,000 workers, while catering reached 6%, involving 13,000 people. Chau urged the government to suspend the importation of foreign workers in certain low-skilled job categories and reinstate rules restricting foreign hiring in 26 specific occupations under the Supplementary Labour Optimisation Scheme, which is currently suspended until September 3.
He proposed using indicators such as unemployment rates, vacancy rates, and median wages to evaluate labor demand before approving foreign labor quotas.
Leave Policy Reforms
FTU Vice-Chair Tam Kin-lin proposed increasing statutory maternity leave to 18 weeks and paternity leave to a minimum of 7 days. She also recommended that the Maternity Leave Pay Reimbursement Scheme be used to cover the cost of the additional weeks. “The annual financial impact would be under HK$200 million—less than half of the original scheme’s budget,” Tam explained.
Paid Carer Leave and Work Injury Program Extension
Chau also proposed introducing five days of statutory paid caregiver leave. Meanwhile, Lam suggested extending the government’s Work Injury Pilot Scheme, set to expire this September, for another three years. He recommended expanding its scope to include all industries and alternative rehabilitation methods such as traditional Chinese medicine.
Tunnel Toll Relief for Commercial Vehicles
The FTU further recommended easing the burden on logistics and delivery firms by reducing tolls for trucks and minibuses using cross-harbour tunnels. FTU Vice-Chairman Chu Hon-sang highlighted the jump in tolls from HK$15 to HK$50 under the current time-based pricing system, urging a review to support struggling businesses.
The FTU’s policy platform reflects growing labor tensions in Hong Kong as technological shifts and policy reforms reshape the employment landscape. With rising unemployment and pressure on foreign economy workers, the union is calling on the government to act decisively in safeguarding workers’ rights and livelihoods.
