Over 20 Work Permits Approved in One Go: How We Helped a Renowned Hong Kong Cantonese Seafood Restaurant Resolve Staff Shortages

2026-07-21

Over 20 Work Permits Approved in One Go: How We Helped a Renowned Hong Kong Cantonese Seafood Restaurant Resolve Staff Shortages | Case Study

Good news: The Labour Department approved over 20 permits in one go. Earlier, Labour Services received another piece of good news for our client. The Labour Department approved over 20 imported worker permits for a chain Cantonese seafood restaurant with a certain level of fame in Hong Kong.

Over 20 foreign worker quotas are neither too many nor too few. For a catering enterprise, this is a significant breakthrough that can genuinely improve operational conditions.

Before The Application

Before Application: Outsourced Dishwashing, Heavy Cost Pressure Before applying for foreign workers, this restaurant outsourced its dishwashing work. This single expense alone amounted to HK$50,000 or more per month, posing a considerable financial pressure on the restaurant's daily operations.

Through this successful application, the restaurant can now handle dishwashing with its own employed staff. Not only are costs controllable, but staff allocation is also more flexible. Employees in various positions can support each other, making overall operations smoother.

Comprehensive Upgrade

One Approval, Comprehensive Improvement of Restaurant Competitiveness The benefits of the quota approval extend far beyond dishwashing:

Younger Waitstaff: The restaurant now has the opportunity to recruit new blood with good appearance, professional demeanor, and sincere, courteous service, aligning with the service quality pursued by high-end restaurants.

Improved Management Processes: Additional management staff have been added, addressing the industry pain point of low employee stability.

Increased Kitchen Staff: This alleviates the long-standing pressure of staff shortages in the kitchen.

Inter-branch Staff Allocation: This chain Cantonese seafood restaurant has branches in Central, Cheung Sha Wan, and Telford Plaza. The Labour Department has arranged for staff to be flexibly allocated among these three locations, allowing the owner to arrange staff more flexibly and ensuring all employees have sufficient time to rest and complete their work.

Clearing A Misconception

Clarifying a Common Misconception: Do Foreign Workers Take Hong Kongers' Jobs? Many people mistakenly believe that importing foreign workers affects local employment. In fact, the government's approval of imported workers has always been strictly regulated: employers must meet various requirements, including the number of local employees and Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions. Without sufficient staff or failing to meet qualifications, permits cannot be approved.

Taking this case as an example, the restaurant currently employs over 120 people, with Hong Kong employees accounting for 80%. The additional 20+ foreign worker quotas actually help the restaurant reduce operating costs and maintain long-term competitiveness. If the restaurant were forced to close due to high labour costs, the first to lose their jobs would be those 80% of local employees. From another perspective, the imported labour policy is actually preserving local employment rather than replacing it.

Furthermore, young locals generally have higher educational qualifications and relatively low willingness to work in the front-line catering sector. In contrast, even with similar educational backgrounds, Mainland graduates working in Hong Kong earn salaries far higher than those in the Mainland. Additionally, the ageing workforce in Hong Kong's service sector is becoming increasingly serious (the average age of many practitioners is over 50). Introducing appropriate labour is a crucial step in bridging structural staff shortages.

It is worth noting that many foreign workers working in Hong Kong have high engagement levels and zero complaints. Some have even made friends in Hong Kong, built relationships, married locals, had children, and settled down, which in the long term also helps alleviate Hong Kong's population ageing problem.

👉 The catering industry's implementation of graded approval for foreign workers is now in effect. Want to know which category your restaurant belongs to? Contact Labour Services via WhatsApp for a free enquiry.

Median salary list for positions under the "Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme": https://labour.services/imported-workers-jobs-salary/

New Policy Flexibility

New Policy Brings Greater Flexibility With the implementation of the new system in June 2026, employers' burdens are further reduced, including increased accommodation allowances. However, note that applications submitted before June 16, 2026, will not benefit from the new arrangements. Employers should plan their foreign worker application schedules in advance.

The new policy also brings greater flexibility in quota usage: Suppose an employer is approved for 20 quotas but hires only 15 people in the first year. The remaining 5 quotas can be used flexibly within one year according to actual needs, giving employers more ample time to plan staff development directions.

Why Choose Labour Services? The imported worker application process is complex, involving qualification review, document preparation, departmental communication, and follow-up. Each step requires professional experience to increase success rates and shorten approval times.

Labour Services has long focused on assisting employers in various industries in Hong Kong (especially the catering sector) in applying for imported worker quotas. We are very familiar with the Labour Department's approval requirements and the latest policy trends, providing employers with customized application plans. We follow up from start to finish, allowing bosses to save significant time and manpower dealing with cumbersome documents and focus on business development.

Is your restaurant or enterprise facing staff shortages? If you are troubled by hiring staff, please contact us directly to learn about the qualifications and procedures for applying for foreign workers.

📱 We help you get multiple quotas approved at once. WhatsApp Labour Services for a free assessment of the number of people your restaurant can apply for.

🌐 More success cases: https://labour.services/blog/

Labour Services Company Ltd. – Solving your staff worries and helping your business develop in the long term.

Over 20 Work Permits Approved in One Go: How We Helped a Renowned Hong Kong Cantonese Seafood Restaurant Resolve Staff Shortages | Case Study