Levy under Supplementary Labour Scheme to resume in August
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     A Government spokesman today (July 19) reminded employers under the Supplementary Labour Scheme (SLS) that collection of the Employees Retraining Levy at $400 per imported worker per month will resume on August 1 this year.

     The obligation on employers of all imported labour to pay the levy was suspended for a period of five years from August 1, 2008, to July 31, 2013, by virtue of the Employees Retraining Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 3) (No. 2) Notice 2008.

     In his 2013 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced that the levy imposed on employers of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) would be abolished on expiry of the suspension so as to ease the burden on families employing FDHs.

     The spokesman said, "The importation of FDHs was de-designated as a labour importation scheme under the Employees Retraining Ordinance (Cap. 423) by the Chief Executive in Council on May 14, 2013, and this gave effect to the abolition of the levy imposed on employers of FDHs.

     "As to the SLS, it remains an approved labour importation scheme by virtue of section 14(3) of Cap. 423. Employers seeking to import labour under the SLS are subject to levy payment upon expiry of the suspension. The levy collected is for funding the training and retraining programmes provided under the Employees Retraining Board.

     "The levy payable in a lump sum in respect of each imported worker is $400 multiplied by the number of months covered by the employment contract. It will be collected upon issue of the visa by the Immigration Department and is not refundable under any circumstances."

     As at the end of June 2013, there were 2 612 imported workers under the SLS in Hong Kong.

     For details of the levy collection, please visit the website of the Immigration Department at www.immd.gov.hk or call 2824 6111. For more information on the SLS, please visit the website of the Labour Department at www.labour.gov.hk or call 2150 6363.

Ends/Friday, July 19, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:20

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