Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS): a guide for Hong Kong employers

What is the ESLS?

The Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS, 補充勞工優化計劃) is run by the Labour Department. The enhanced scheme was approved by the Executive Council on 13 June 2023 and has accepted applications since 4 September 2023. It lets employers with genuine local recruitment difficulty import workers at technician level or below.

The ESLS does not accept applications for posts covered by the Special Scheme to Import Care Workers for Residential Care Homes, or by the sector-specific schemes for construction and transport. Employers in those sectors must use their own scheme.

Since 4 September 2023 the 26 job categories that were generally excluded under the old scheme — including waiter, sales assistant, junior cook, cashier, delivery worker, driver and warehouse keeper — can also be applied for. The June 2026 review kept this coverage.

Employer obligations

• Run a local recruitment exercise for every vacancy, as required by the Labour Department.
• Pay at least the median monthly wage for a comparable post in Hong Kong.
• Use the Standard Employment Contract: up to 24 months, with no automatic renewal. To keep a worker, re-apply about 8–9 months before the contract ends.
• Imported workers have the same protection under Hong Kong labour law as local employees, and may work only for the approved employer in the approved post.
• Give each worker paid leave to attend a Labour Department briefing within 8 weeks of arrival.
• If you provide accommodation, it must meet the Standard Employment Contract standards (at least 3.4 m² per person, no more than 6 beds per bedroom). See worker dormitories.

Manning ratio

You must keep at least two full-time local employees for every imported worker (2:1) at all times. Full-time means employed directly by you for at least 35 hours a week; part-timers, contractors' staff and self-employed people do not count, nor do sole proprietors or partners and family members living with them.

• Catering production (kitchen) and table-service posts: 3:1, counted across the whole section.
• Full-time local employees with disabilities (receiving Disability Allowance) count 1:1.

Employees Retraining Levy

HK$400 for each month of the contract, up to 24 months — so at most HK$9,600 per worker. It is paid in one lump sum to the Immigration Department after the visa application is approved and before the visa is issued. It is never refunded and cannot be deducted from the worker's wages.

Median wage reference

The Labour Department's List of Common Posts (revised 22 June 2026) gives the official median monthly wage for common posts. Your offer must not be lower than the median for a comparable post.

Application steps

1. 1

   File the application

   Form ESLS-1A for posts on the List of Common Posts, or ESLS-1B for other posts, sent by post or in person to the Labour Department's Supplementary Labour Division.

2. 2

   Preliminary screening

   The Division checks that the wage meets the median and that the job requirements are reasonable.

3. 3

   Open local recruitment

   Normally 4 weeks; 6 weeks for catering production and table-service posts, with a Labour Department job fair every two weeks. Ads go in a local newspaper or online platform within the first 14 days, and the Labour Department arranges all interviews.

4. 4

   Recruitment results

   Submit form ESLS-9 within 4 working days after recruitment ends, including reasons for not hiring any local applicants.

5. 5

   Labour Advisory Board

   The Labour Department consults members of the Labour Advisory Board on its recommendation.

6. 6

   Approval in principle

   The Government decides. If refused, you can ask for a review in writing within 3 months.

7. 7

   Visa / entry permit

   Workers file form ID 1001A and the employer ID 1001B with the Immigration Department. Mainland residents must be recruited through Mainland labour-service enterprises.

8. 8

   Levy and arrival

   Pay the levy before the visa is issued. Workers register for a Hong Kong identity card within 30 days of arrival.

Processing time: when the scheme launched in 2023 the Labour Department said it would strive to process screened applications within three months; the Immigration Department normally takes six weeks once it has all documents. Your overall timeline depends on the recruitment period and your paperwork — ask us for an estimate.

Changes from 16 June 2026

• Two-tier vetting: Tier 1 is the basic 2:1 ratio and 4-week recruitment; Tier 2 sets stricter requirements.
• Catering production and table-service posts (e.g. cooks, junior cooks, waiters, cashiers) are Tier 2: a 3:1 ratio counted across the whole section, a 6-week recruitment period and a Labour Department job fair every two weeks.
• Full-time local employees with disabilities count 1:1.
• Accommodation deduction cap raised from 10% to 20% of wages (or the actual cost, whichever is lower) for approvals in principle issued on or after 16 June 2026.
• Each imported worker may work at business locations in up to five districts.
• Debarment periods for serious breaches accumulate up to five years, and sanctioned employers are named.

Nationality

According to the Immigration Department, ESLS entry arrangements do not apply to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, Nepal and Vietnam. Imported workers may not bring dependants. Mainland residents must be recruited through Mainland labour-service enterprises.

How Angels can help

• Preparing and filing the quota application and supporting documents.
• Supporting the local recruitment exercise and compiling the recruitment and interview records.
• Sourcing workers through the Mainland labour companies on the official list.
• Submitting visa documents to the Immigration Department.
• Medical arrangements, accommodation, arrival support and adaptation activities after workers arrive.