The government launched a transportation industry foreign labor import program last year, allowing bus companies to apply for importing foreign bus drivers. Citybus recently confirmed that it has been approved to import 20 non-franchise bus captains through the program. The Automobile Transport Industry General Union held a press conference yesterday, strongly opposing the introduction of foreign labor by employers through non-franchise bus licenses and demanding improvement in the salary, benefits, and working conditions of current employees.
Citybus has been granted approval to import 20 non-franchise bus captains, with the first phase of 5 Mainland Chinese captains expected to arrive in Hong Kong soon and prepare to take local driving tests. Citybus stated that the Mainland Chinese captains will only drive fixed routes for non-franchise buses according to the law. Non-franchise bus services are diverse, covering bus leasing, employee shuttle services, sightseeing tours, and more. Citybus believes that this practice will help release more local bus captains to provide franchise bus services and emphasizes that they will continue to recruit bus captains comprehensively.
The Employees Association of Citybus (Citybus) issued a statement the night before, expressing opposition to the company’s actions. The association pointed out that the foreign labor is paid around HK$19,000 per month without year-end bonuses or double pay. The company will provide dormitories for foreign workers and deduct 10% of their base salary as rent.
The association criticized Citybus for not improving the salaries and benefits of local employees while hiring foreign labor at a higher cost. They also mentioned that foreign workers can reside in company dormitories at a low cost, while the company does not provide dormitories or raise salaries for local employees to cope with the increasing cost of living, which they find difficult to understand.
The association questioned whether foreign workers can adapt to the unique traffic situation in Hong Kong and asked, “The company announced in April that foreign workers would arrive in May. Is one month enough time for proper training?”
The association condemned Citybus and related authorities for implementing policies without consulting employees first, leading to poor communication between the company and its staff. They also criticized the authorities for inadequate supervision of the company and ignoring the failure of the hourly wage system for recruiting bus drivers, opting to fill vacancies by importing foreign labor.
At a press conference yesterday, the Automobile Transport Industry General Union criticized the authorities for promising one thing and doing another, noting that officials from the Transport and Logistics Bureau had previously claimed they would not approve employers in the transportation industry to import foreign labor.
Vice-Chairman of the General Union and Convenor of the Bus Alliance, Lai Siu Chung, bluntly stated that besides Citybus, it is understood that other franchise bus companies are also applying to import foreign labor through similar means, with numbers exceeding Citybus. He explained that opposition to importing foreign labor is not only about concerns for traffic safety and service quality but also about worries that importing foreign labor may reduce job opportunities for local professional drivers or lead to employers using various excuses to lower wages, resulting in fewer people willing to enter the transportation industry, creating a vicious cycle.
Lai Siu Chung further stated that the General Union has repeatedly urged the authorities to prioritize local employment for workers but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears, as the government has not taken reasonable steps to address the labor shortage issue, simply approving the import of foreign labor as a quick solution.
Citybus Branch Director, Yuen Yu Ho, mentioned that many members are disappointed with employers introducing foreign labor and fear that once this precedent is set, employers will continue to import foreign labor. He also pointed out that several years ago, the employer transitioned to paying employees by the hour, deducting breaks and meal times without pay, leaving employees with only 6 to 7 hours of pay per day after deductions.
Assistant Branch Director of Citybus, Leung Nuen Yui added that many hourly workers are facing what is known as the “more days” situation, where they work for 12 hours a day but have 2 to 3 hours of unpaid meal breaks. He urged employers to improve employees’ wages and work arrangements, such as providing options for monthly salary contracts and abolishing the “more days” work schedule.
Legislative Council Member, Lo Chung Hung, criticized the Transport and Logistics Bureau for allowing employers to apply for importing foreign labor through non-franchise bus licenses, describing it as “playing close to the line.” He urged the authorities to promptly review and adjust this policy, and criticized the lack of concern for industry workers and the failure to honor commitments and maintain integrity, promising to follow up on this issue at the Legislative Council level.
The Transport Department responded last night, stating that the “Transport Industry Import Labor Program – Public Light Bus/Minibus Industry” launched in June last year does not cover franchise bus drivers. Applicants under this program must be operators of public light buses or non-franchise buses.
The Transport Department emphasized that Citybus has two bus franchise rights and holds related passenger transport business certificates to provide non-franchise bus services, making it eligible to import drivers to drive its non-franchise bus routes under the program.
The Transport Department clarified that they have made it clear to Citybus that the imported drivers cannot undertake any work outside the program, including driving franchise bus routes. They will strengthen monitoring, and if any company is found to be in violation, the approved drivers will be revoked, and they will not be allowed to participate in the program for the next two years.