The managerial implications of labour importation in Hong Kong

This article discusses the controversies surrounding the issue of labour importation, and then describes the development of the various labour importation schemes introduced over the years as well as its institutional arrangements and its gaps. The managerial implications of labour importation are e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of manpower 1999-01, Vol.20 (7), p.469-482
Main Author: Lee, Grace O.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Associations
Case studies
Chambers of commerce
Clothing industry
Construction industry
Employers
Employment
Executives
Flexible working
Hong Kong
Human resource management
Immigration policy
Labor force
Labor shortages
Labor unions
Manufacturers
Manufacturing
Migrant workers
Political activism
Political power
Prosperity
Public policy
Restrictions
Wages & salaries
Working groups
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Summary:This article discusses the controversies surrounding the issue of labour importation, and then describes the development of the various labour importation schemes introduced over the years as well as its institutional arrangements and its gaps. The managerial implications of labour importation are examined, using the case study approach. Empirical evidence from the case studies show that labour importation could be a very resourceful input to organizational performance, but the contributions of import workers are limited by institutional factors. Because of these man-made rigidities and inflexibilities, management makes little attempt to integrate the imported workers into the mainstream labour force. They are confined to the role of "peripheral" workers, but it is not because of any inherent disabilities. Rather it is due to employers' response to social and political demands to marginalize the imported workers so as to prevent them from undercutting the local work force.
ISSN:0143-7720
1758-6577
DOI:10.1108/01437729910292257