How renovation companies legally import plumbers, electricians and carpenters (plus the secondment trap)
We recently completed an engagement for a small renovation company needing plumbers and electricians, with general workers, carpenters and plasterers also on the list. They had originally planned to use secondment — another company hires the workers and then dispatches them over. We advised against it immediately.
Why seconded imported workers are off-limits
Borrowing or seconding imported workers can constitute illegal employment: first, the worker was not hired by you; second, the government does not permit such arrangements. If something goes wrong, your company can end up blacklisted and unable to apply again. Engineering and renovation firms should assess their own headcount needs and apply properly. On choosing a compliant agency, see how to choose an imported labour agency.
Site work vs renovation work: different routes
Construction-site work goes through the sector-specific scheme (main-contractor applications, Development Bureau vetting) — not our lane. But renovation work such as furniture fitting and restaurant fit-outs — plumber, electrician, carpenter, plasterer, painter and other technician-level trades — can be applied for under the Supplementary Labour Scheme. Trade details are in our renovation trades guide.
Assessment: video, then video-call, then in person
We recommend a three-step assessment: review the candidate’s footage and documents first, then a video interview, then meet in person — we can even arrange for the candidate to come to Hong Kong for an on-site skills test in plumbing, carpentry or painting. These are highly professional trades commanding very high day rates in Hong Kong right now; testing before hiring is being responsible for your project quality.
The hidden edge: Mainland flat-pack installation experience
Buying ready-made furniture from Mainland websites is now common — sofas, large wardrobes, desks, wine cabinets, TV cabinets, dining tables — all needing installation in Hong Kong. Mainland drawings are not always detailed, shipments sometimes arrive in two or three batches, and missing parts require knowing how to chase the seller. Masters with Mainland installation experience handle these faster than local hands — an advantage many employers never expect.
FAQ
Q: Which trades can renovation companies import?A: Technician-level trades such as plumber, electrician, carpenter, plasterer, painter and general worker under the Supplementary Labour Scheme; construction-site work goes through the sector scheme — a different route.
Q: Can I borrow another company’s imported workers?A: Absolutely not. Borrowing or seconding imported workers is illegal employment; the employer risks prosecution and blacklisting, ending any future applications.
Q: How do I make sure the master’s workmanship is good?A: Three steps — footage screening, video interview, in-person assessment — and we can arrange on-site skills tests in Hong Kong. We also run a training school in Longgang, so the talent supply is steady.
Q: How much cheaper are imported renovation workers than local hires?A: The wage medians sit meaningfully below comparable local trades; the exact gap depends on the trade — see common roles and wage medians.
Renovation projects need tradespeople? WhatsApp us (Labour Department licence 81090) and we will tell you the safest way to hire your trades.
Related
- Imported worker renewal: why the Labour Department says start 8–9 months early + the work-address rule
- Importing warehouse workers for exhibitions and stage production: the 6–8 quota strategy
- Agency vanished and documents lost? How a laundry factory renewed 6 imported workers — plus the driver-licence rules
- Apply for imported workers
- Hiring waiters: 3:1 ratio & medians
- Which agency is good?
- HK imported labour schemes
- ESLS process & fees
- Employer FAQ