Labour Department - Chapter 1 – Highlights of Year 2025

1.1 The labour market softened in the beginning of 2025, but showed signs of stabilisation towards the latter part of the year. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate retreated slightly to 3.8% in the fourth quarter from 3.9% in the previous quarter, after trending up from 3.2% in the first quarter. Meanwhile, the underemployment rate went up to 1.7% in the fourth quarter from 1.1% in the first quarter. We will continue to closely monitor the labour market situation and enhance our employment services on all fronts, especially in canvassing job vacancies and rendering assistance to job seekers.

Employment Services

Employment and Recruitment Services

1.2 To help job seekers enter the labour market and respond speedily to the recruitment needs of employers, the Labour Department (LD) organises employment promotion activities at various locations across the territory. A total of 22 large-scale job fairs and 737 district-based job fairs were organised in the year.

1.3 The LD adopts a proactive approach in providing employment assistance. In the year, the free recruitment service provided for employers by the LD recorded 503 934 job vacancies from the private and public sectors; and 109 023 placements were secured.

Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme

1.4 The LD launched the three-year Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme on 15 July 2024 to encourage persons aged 40 or above who have not been in paid employment for three consecutive months or more to rejoin the employment market.

Labour Relations

Promoting Harmonious Labour Relations

1.5 To foster harmonious labour relations, the LD adopts a proactive and pragmatic approach in helping employers and employees resolve their disagreements through communication and mutual understanding. In 2025, we handled a total of 127 labour disputes (each involving more than 20 employees) and 14 342 claims (each involving 20 or less employees). Over 70% of cases with conciliation service rendered were resolved. The average waiting time for conciliation meetings was 3.8 weeks in the year.

Enhancing Good Human Resource Management Practices and Harmonious Labour Relations

1.6 The LD organised a wide range of promotional activities including exhibitions, seminars and talks to promote public understanding of labour laws and publicise employee-oriented and good human resource managemet measures. In 2025, we continued the promotion of labour-management collaboration to encourage both sides to exchange views and enhance mutual understanding on labour issues of common concern.

Employees’ Rights and Benefits

Abolition of the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Offsetting Arrangement and Implementation of the Subsidy Scheme for Abolition of MPF Offsetting Arrangement

1.7 The Government abolished the arrangement of employers using the accrued benefits of their mandatory contributions under the MPF System to offset their employees’ severance payment (SP) /long service payment (LSP) on 1 May 2025. To help employers adapt to the policy change, the Government launched on the same day the 25-year Subsidy Scheme for Abolition of MPF Offsetting Arrangement to share employers’ SP/LSP expenses after the abolition.

Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW)

1.8 The Minimum Wage Commission (MWC), established under the Minimum Wage Ordinance, is tasked with the main function of reporting to the Chief Executive (CE) in Council its recommendation about the SMW rate. The MWC comprises a chairperson and 12 members drawn from the labour sector, business sector, academia and the Government.

1.9 As announced in the 2025 Policy Address, the Government has agreed to the new mechanism of adopting a formula for implementing the annual review of the SMW rate proposed by the MWC. The indicators adopted in the formula are objective and easily comprehensible, enhancing the transparency and predictability of the SMW adjustment and minimising controversy. An annual review allows closer alignment of the SMW with socioeconomic changes. The MWC conducted the review under the new mechanism and the next SMW rate is expected to take effect on 1 May 2026.

Sustaining Vigorous Enforcement against Wage Offences

1.10In 2025, the LD sustained its all-out efforts to combat wage offences. Territory-wide inspection campaigns targeted at offence-prone trades were launched by labour inspectors. Apart from proactive inspections to check compliance, we widely publicised our complaint hotline (2815 2200) and collected intelligence on non-payment of wages in various industries through an early warning system in collaboration with trade unions. We conducted prompt investigation into suspected wage offences so as to facilitate speedy prosecution.

1.11We continued to take out prosecution against employers and responsible individuals of companies for wage offences. We also strengthened our educational and promotional efforts to remind employers of their statutory obligation to pay wages on time and to encourage employees to lodge claims promptly and come forward as prosecution witnesses.

Vigorous Enforcement against Illegal Employment

1.12The LD collaborated with the Police and the Immigration Department to combat illegal employment activities. A total of 44 joint operations were mounted in the year.

Protecting Digital Platform Workers

1.13The Chief Executive announced in his 2025 Policy Address that the Government would improve the work injury compensation mechanism for digital platform workers through legislation, and continue to make good use of the Tripartite Committee for the Digital Platform Industry to discuss issues of concern to the stakeholders.

Safety and Health at Work

Major Public Works Projects (PWPs)

1.14In light of the commencement of various core projects of the Northern Metropolis such as High-end Professional Services and Logistics Hub, and other major PWPs (including major infrastructure projects and redevelopment works), the LD continued to step up inspection and enforcement,  promotion and education as well as applying technology for enhancing construction site safety. These included conducting comprehensive and in-depth surprise inspections of major PWP sites with high-risk processes or poor safety performance to scrutinise the safe system of work and safety management system of duty holders, and provided advice on occupational safety and health (OSH) legislation for technology products developed by industries to facilitate the introduction and application of such products, eliminating or controlling risks at source. We also continued to participate actively in site safety management committee meetings of major new projects to identify potential risks on site as early as possible and provide appropriate OSH advice to site management to prevent accidents. We provided participants with the latest safety hints and important OSH information with a view to enhancing safety awareness at construction sites. We also strengthened the coordination with the Development Bureau, works departments and other public works project clients to enhance the site safety measures of major PWPs, with a view to ensuring more effective control of risks by contractors.

Renovation, Maintenance, Alteration and Addition (RMAA) Works

1.15The volume of RMAA works is expected to grow further as many old buildings in Hong Kong are successively required to undergo maintenance and repair.

1.16The LD continued to step up inspection and enforcement efforts to monitor RMAA works and deter contractors from adopting unsafe work practices, so as to enhance the occupational safety condition of RMAA works. Territory-wide special enforcement operations (SEOs) on RMAA works with emphasis on high-risk processes, such as work-at-height, scaffolding works, demolition works, lifting operations and electrical work were also launched. During the SEOs of 2025, 666 suspension/improvement notices were issued and 265 prosecutions were taken out. The LD has also stepped up area patrols to combat high-risk work processes of RMAA works, including unsafe work-above-ground activities and improper erection, dismantling or use of truss-out scaffolds.

1.17On the fronts of education and promotion, we organised a series of large-scale promotion and publicity campaigns, targeting RMAA works, as well as the related work-at-height and truss-out scaffolding works to strengthen the safety awareness of all parties involved. These included implementing a two-year publicity campaign in collaboration with the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC) with a wide range of initiatives to impress upon different stakeholders, such as contractors and workers engaged in RMAA works as well as property owners, the importance of work safety more effectively. In line with the enforcement strategy, we launched thematic publicity to highlight the serious consequences of legal violations and to enhance the law-abiding awareness of duty holders. We also partnered with the Home Affairs Department (HAD) to organise publicity and promotional activities to promulgate work safety at the district level.

1.18In 2025, in collaboration with the OSHC, the Construction Industry Council, the Property Management Services Authority and other relevant organisations, the LD organised a series of safety seminars concerning RMAA works to engage industry stakeholders in exploring means to further enhance OSH level in construction safety. Given the occurrence of work-above-ground accidents involving small-scale renovation and repair works from time to time, the LD collaborated with the OSHC as well as the property management and construction industries to extend the “Promoting the Use of Light-duty Working Platforms Scheme Phase II”. Through property management companies, step platforms and light-duty working platforms (hop-up platforms) would be lent to contractors and workers for conducting above-ground RMAA works in residential estates or buildings free of charge, so that ladders would not be used for such work.

Follow-up Investigations of Serious and Fatal Work Accidents

1.19The LD is highly concerned about the serious and fatal work accidents that happened in 2025, including the fire incident in Tai Po. We commenced immediate on-site investigations as soon as we were notified of the accidents to identify the causes and recommend improvement measures. We also issued suspension notices to the relevant duty holders, suspending the work processes concerned until we were satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risks had been taken. We would ascertain the liability of the duty holders concerned and take actions pursuant to the law if there was any violation of OSH legislation, including initiating prosecutions against relevant duty holders.

1.20In addition, the LD launched a series of SEOs targeting high-risk work activities and industries with a view to combating violations of operations. The LD would suspend relevant work activities immediately and issue advisory letters to duty holders/stakeholders concerned, urging them to take appropriate safety measures with a view to preventing recurrence of similar accidents when it was reasonable to believe that certain work process that might pose a considerable OSH risk was carried out at sites. On the fronts of publicity and promotion as well as education and training, the LD, in collaboration with the CIC, the OSHC and relevant organisations held safety seminars after the occurrence of individual serious or fatal accidents to explain the accident-related statutory requirements and preventive measures to the industry. In addition, the LD also disseminated safety hints related to serious accidents and corresponding preventive measures to the public through its mobile application to prevent accidents from happening again.

1.21Following the tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, the LD has initiated legislative amendments work to impose duties on principal contractors, subcontractors and all individuals to ban smoking in all construction sites to reduce the risk of fires caused by smoking.

Safety Promotional Campaigns

1.22With regard to the construction industry, to continue to improve its safety performance, the LD, in collaboration with the OSHC and related organisations, organised the “Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme” (Award Scheme) again to inculcate a safety culture in the industry and to enhance work safety awareness of employers, employees and their families. This year’s programme further enhanced the competition categories. To promote the adoption of the “Smart Site Safety System” in private construction projects, private worksites that participated in the Development Bureau’s “Smart Site Safety System Labelling Scheme” received additional scoring. The scheme featured a variety of activities which included safety performance competitions, roving exhibitions, safety quizzes, an award presentation ceremony and a fun day. We also produced radio programmes and the making-of the Award Scheme, as well as broadcast Announcements in the Public Interest (APIs) and promotional films on television/radio and public transport.

1.23In order to enhance the OSH awareness of the catering industry, the LD produced giveaways printed with catering safety messages for distribution to the public, and added Putonghua dubbing along with simplified Chinese subtitles to the existing five-episode catering industry safety animation series. This enabled more effective promotion of safety information to employees whose mother tongue is Putonghua.

Strengthening Publicity of OSH Complaint Channels

1.24Through an online OSH complaint platform, the LD facilitates reports of unsafe working conditions with mobile electronic devices by employees and members of the public, so that the LD can conduct inspections in a more targeted manner and carry out prompt follow-up actions pursuant to the risk-based principle. The LD is promoting its complaint channels through different publicity measures, including broadcasting relevant TV/Radio APIs on TV/Radio stations; placing advertisements on newspapers, displaying advertisements at prominent locations and public transport; distributing handy card holders printed with details of the complaint channels in different languages at the Service Centers of Workers Registration and community centres for diverse races; and promulgating the information of complaint channels in Mandatory Safety Training Courses and the LD’s OSH publications.

Work Safety Alert Animation

1.25The LD continued to produce Work Safety Alert in the form of animation videos to enable the industry to better comprehend how accidents happened and the necessary safety measures to be taken to prevent such accidents. Two animation videos were produced and uploaded to the LD’s website and disseminated through various channels in 2025. The LD continued to provide sub-titles for the animation videos in different languages to enhance the publicity and promotion targeting workers of diverse races.

Continuous Refinement of Mandatory Safety Training (MST) Courses

1.26In 2025, the LD continued to refine the MST courses, including launching a holistic review on the existing MST system. In-depth studies are currently underway to improve the overall quality of the courses, ensure that the courses keep pace with the latest OSH risks trends, meet the practical needs of trainees, and strengthen the monitoring of the performance of course providers and trainers of the MST courses. We also continued to conduct different modes of monitoring inspections (including surprise inspections and covert inspections which involved inspecting officers in the guise of course participants) to ensure that the MST courses were delivered in accordance with the course content.

Prevention of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Workplaces

1.27The LD issued the “Guidance Notes on Prevention of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning in Workplaces” in December 2025 to offer practical guidance for employers, employees and relevant duty holders. The Guidance Notes cover the sources and hazards of CO in workplaces, preventive measures, as well as safe systems of work including risk assessment, CO monitoring and measurement, emergency procedures, training, etc., with the aim of enhancing duty holders' awareness of CO poisoning prevention.

Pilot Rehabilitation Programme for Employees Injured at Work

1.28The LD’s three-year “Pilot Rehabilitation Programme for Employees Injured at Work” was concluded on 22 September 2025, as originally scheduled, and ceased accepting applications.

Strengthening Local and International Partnerships

Labour Day Reception

1.29On 24 April 2025, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, hosted a reception at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to pay tribute to the workforce. The Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, officiated at the reception, with guests from trade unions, employer associations and other organisations attending.

Contacts with Other Labour Administrations

1.30The LD maintained liaison and interflows with other labour administrations through visits and participation in various activities in 2025.

1.31In October 2025, the Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, Mr Wei Dichun, led the Delegation of National Model Workers and Craftsmen to visit Hong Kong for the first time. In collaboration with various government bureaux and departments, the Labour Department coordinated a series of exchange and visit programmes for the Delegation.

1.32In June 2025, a tripartite team comprising representatives from the Government, employers and employees, led by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, attended the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, as part of the delegation of the People's Republic of China.

1.33In May 2025, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, led a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government delegation (including representatives of the Labour Department) to attend the Seventh Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting in Jeju, Korea.