Most foreign workers under Hong Kong's GEP hired on short-term contracts, many earning below HK$20,000
Quick Look
About 80% of foreign nationals granted working visas under Hong Kong's General Employment Policy last year were on short-term contracts, and nearly half earned less than HK$20,000 monthly, according to Immigration Department data showing 31,278 approvals in 2024, with similar trends continuing into the first half of 2025.
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Why It Matters
Hong Kong's General Employment Policy (GEP) allows foreign nationals to obtain work visas, excluding Mainland Chinese residents. The policy has seen fluctuating approval numbers, peaking above 40,000 annually in 2018–2019 before declining and recently stabilizing above 30,000.
About 80 per cent of the foreign nationals granted working visas under Hong Kong’s General Employment Policy (GEP) last year were hired on short-term contracts, while nearly half of successful applicants earned less than HK$20,000 (US$2,564) a month.
According to the latest Immigration Department data, 31,278 GEP working visas for foreigners were approved last year. Mainland Chinese residents cannot apply to the scheme.
While the figure marked the second consecutive year the scheme had cleared the 30,000-level, the number was still shy of the more than 40,000 recorded annually in 2018 and 2019.
The latest statistics showed that 79.7 per cent of successful candidates, or 24,929, held short-term positions or jobs lasting less than a year. Among those granted visas, 47.5 per cent, or 14,850, were earning below HK$20,000 a month.
The proportion of approved applicants holding short-term contracts last year also marked an increase from 72.1 per cent in 2024 and 64 per cent in 2023.
The data also showed 13,640 GEP visas were approved in the first half of this year, with 68.6 per cent on short-term contracts and 49.8 per cent earning less than HK$20,000.
Open Questions
- What are the long-term implications of increased short-term contracts on Hong Kong's labor market stability?
- How does the wage distribution under GEP compare to local employment standards?
- What factors are driving the continued reliance on lower-wage, short-term foreign labor despite efforts to attract high-skilled talent?
