Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun on Monday reassured local workers that the government would ensure they have priority in employment amid concerns about competition with non-local labour.

Sun's remarks came a day after the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) called for the setting up of a mechanism that would trigger the suspension of labour importation schemes.

The FTU said local employees are facing challenges in finding jobs in the retail, catering and construction sectors.

The three sectors were included in labour importation schemes introduced by the government last year.

Speaking to reporters, Sun stressed that companies should prioritise hiring local workers before turning to non-local labour.

"Only when companies fail to hire a sufficient workforce through local recruitment can they proceed to the next stage – to apply to import labour through industry quotas or general schemes. This demonstrates that the mechanism (of labour importation schemes) itself guarantees priority for local workers in employment," he added.

"Most importantly, if local workers show greater willingness to work, the number of imported labour will subsequently decrease."

The welfare minister also said the government is looking into setting up a database for high-risk caregivers after an elderly woman and her son, who had cared for her, were found dead in their Kwun Tong flat earlier this month.

Sun added that the authorities will take privacy concerns into consideration.