The Construction Industry Council said on Sunday it expected a strong response to a labour importation scheme, adding that a central dormitory to house the thousands of workers would be ready before they arrive by the end of the year.

Council chairman Thomas Ho was speaking ahead of Monday's opening of applications for the scheme to import 12,000 construction workers to ease labour shortages.　

The scheme, which allows firms to bring in workers in 29 categories, gives priority to public works projects.

Ho said he expected high demand for concrete workers, plasterers and tilers.

“The shortage of workers situation is very acute. So in the month of July, my expectation is at least 3,000 to 4,000 workers will be in the applications,” Ho said.

He said most of the incoming workers will likely come from the north of the country, rather than the Greater Bay Area.

He added that the council was converting former quarantine sites into central dormitories for the workers, with renovations including additional facilities like washrooms.

“The main thing we are doing now is the welfare facilities… When they go to work and then come back from work, it will be more or less at the same time. So we need to have sufficient toilets and welfare facilities for them to use,” he added.