Hong Kong 2025 Policy Address: Employment Highlights

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee delivered the 2025 Policy Address on 17 September 2025. Below are the key employment-related highlights that Hong Kong employers should note:

1. Set the First Minimum Wage Rate According to the New Annual Review Mechanism

The current Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) rate stands at HK$42.1 per hour. The Government has approved a new mechanism for implementing the annual review of the SMW rate using a formula-based approach. The first SMW rate determined under this new mechanism is expected to come into effect on 1 May 2026.

2. Protect Digital Platform Workers

The Government will enhance the work injury compensation mechanism for digital platform workers through legislation and will continue utilising the Tripartite Committee for the Digital Platform Industry to address stakeholders' concerns.

3. Enhance Occupational Safety and Health

The Labour Department will strengthen inspection, enforcement, promotion, publicity, education, and training to cultivate a stronger Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) culture and reduce workplace accidents. It will also utilise innovative technologies and AI, such as drones for improved inspection and evidence collection, and support the development of technology products to enhance OSH in the industry.

4. Support Workers

Through the Good Employer Charter, the Government will continue to encourage more employers to adopt family-friendly employment practices to support childcare needs, such as flexible working hours.

The Employees Retraining Board will enhance its industry consultative mechanism to identify skill gaps and develop a targeted training framework. It will collaborate with higher education institutions and training bodies to introduce industry-recognised micro-credential courses and leverage technology for flexible learning. The Government will amend the Employees Retraining Ordinance accordingly.

The Labour Department will continue its work on the Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme. A mid-term review will be conducted, alongside the Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged, to explore initiatives to promote silver employment.

5. Ensure Employment Priority of Local Workers

To prevent abuse of the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme, employers applying to import waiters/waitresses or junior cooks must now extend the local recruitment period from four weeks to six weeks. During the local recruitment period, they are required to attend an on-site job fair organised by the Labour Department once per week. Furthermore, employers must already employ at least two local full-time waiters/waitresses or junior cooks before being eligible to import one waiter/waitress or junior cook.

To combat illegal employment, the Government will introduce a dedicated hotline for reporting illegal workers and enhance intelligence collection and inter-departmental joint enforcement operations to protect employment opportunities for local workers.

The 2025 Policy Address is available here.