South Korean Chain Restaurant Group Secures All Six Approved Quotas for Inputted Workers in Hong Kong

2026-07-10

South Korean Chain Restaurant Group Secures All Six Approved Quotas for Inputted Workers in Hong Kong | Real Case Study

Client Background: South Korean Chain Dining Brand Enters Hong Kong

A large South Korean chain restaurant group plans to expand its business in Hong Kong by opening authentic Korean-style restaurants. According to the group’s brand standards, restaurants operating in Hong Kong must employ a certain proportion of Korean chefs and floor service staff to ensure that food quality and service standards remain truly 'authentic', providing Korean diners in Hong Kong with a 'back home' feeling.

The group already operates two restaurants in Hong Kong with a stable Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contribution record and plans to continue its investment expansion in Hong Kong.

The Challenge

Challenges: Work Visa Rejections

Prior to engaging us, the client had attempted to process work visas (Working Visa) for six Korean chefs independently, but all applications were rejected.

Due to the large volume of Korean documents, complex translation and formatting requirements, and the client's lack of familiarity with Hong Kong's imported worker application procedures, multiple attempts ended in failure.

However, the group's contract clauses stipulate that a certain proportion of Korean staff must be employed; otherwise, headquarters will not approve the opening of new restaurants in Hong Kong, making the situation urgent.

The ESLS Solution

Our Solution: Leveraging the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS)

After thoroughly understanding the client's needs, we recommended applying for imported workers through the Labour Department's Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) and formulated a comprehensive application strategy for the client.

Our specific work included:

• Needs Analysis: Confirmed the need to hire three Korean chefs and three floor service managers, totaling six quotas. • Local Recruitment Procedure: As required, placed recruitment advertisements in newspapers and submitted local recruitment records to the Labour Department. Since Korean-speaking talent is extremely rare in Hong Kong, no one applied during the local recruitment period, meeting the conditions for introducing foreign workers. • Document Preparation: Organized and translated a large volume of Korean documents, ensuring all Immigration Department and Labour Department application forms were completed in English, in compliance with Hong Kong Immigration Department requirements. • Labour Department Application: Detailed the cultural and commercial rationale for employing Korean staff, including authentic chef resumes, work experience, and the scale of restaurant investment. • Immigration Department Follow-up: Accompanied the employer through multiple inquiries by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, clearly explaining the entire application rationale.

All Six Quotas Approved

Application Success: All Six Quotas Approved

Following strict approval processes by the Labour Department and the Hong Kong Immigration Department, all six imported worker quotas were approved.

The key to the successful application lay in our ability to clearly articulate the following reasons:

• Cultural Necessity: Korean cuisine preparation, such as pickling and soybean paste (doenjang), requires chefs with authentic Korean culinary cultural backgrounds; non-Korean chefs find it difficult to fully replicate authentic flavors. • Language Necessity: Floor service staff mustserve Korean customers in fluent Korean, while fluent Korean-speaking talent in Hong Kong is extremely scarce. • Investment Credibility: The client already operates two restaurants in Hong Kong, representing a genuine, large-scale long-term investment, with intentions to continue expanding.

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Complete Process and Timeline for Hong Kong Inputted Worker Applications https://labour.services/imported-workers-process-fees/

After-Arrival Support

Full-Service Support: One-Stop Follow-Up After Arrival

Approval of quotas is not the end. We provide one-stop service for the client, from application to continuous follow-up for two years after the foreign workers arrive in Hong Kong:

• Assist in drafting and signing standard employment contracts. • Arrange accommodation and living support for foreign workers arriving in Hong Kong. • Assist in processing Hong Kong Identity Cards. • Arrange attendance at Labour Department rights seminars to ensure foreign workers understand local labor laws and their own rights. • Follow up on insurance matters and daily work issues. • Legally arrange for foreign workers to rotate work across up to three to five business locations, in accordance with the latest policies.

Why Choose Us? Over 95% Application Success Rate

We have handled imported worker applications from various nationalities over the years, including Mainland China, Japan, New Zealand, Nepal, South Korea, etc., serving multiple industries.

Our application success rate exceeds 95%, far higher than the market average.

Our core advantages:

• Meticulous review of every document, checking each one before submission to ensure nothing is overlooked. • Familiarity with the approval culture of the Labour Department and Immigration Department, anticipating and answering all questions in advance. • Full-process follow-up, including attending meetings at the Labour Department and Immigration Department. • Continuous two-year follow-up after arriving in Hong Kong, handling accommodation, insurance, compliance, and other issues.

Immediate Inquiry: Hong Kong Inputted Worker Application Services

Regardless of your industry or employee nationality, as long as there is a reasonable business need, we can assist you in legally introducing the required talent through the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS).

Labour Services Company Ltd. 📲 All six quotas approved. Want to know how your company can achieve this? Contact Labour Services via WhatsApp immediately for inquiries. 🌐 More Success Cases: https://labour.services/blog/

South Korean Chain Restaurant Group Secures All Six Approved Quotas for Inputted Workers in Hong Kong | Real Case Study