Labour minister Chris Sun on Thursday said people who suspect they were laid off by their employer in order to be replaced by workers from outside the city should file official complaints.

Sun said he is aware that some people have been making such claims recently, stressing that such moves by employers would be illegal.

He added that by law, companies are required to employ two local people for every imported worker they have on their books.

Sun said officials will investigate complaints made through the Labour Department's 2150 6363 hotline.

The minister said more spot checks will also be conducted, especially in the catering sector.

"If officials find and confirm any violation during the checks, we will consider imposing executive sanctions against the company," he told reporters after attending an event.

"These include cancelling the labour import quota allocated to the firm, or that for a certain period of time going forward, we will refuse all their import applications."

Sun stressed that local workers will always get priority when it comes to jobs.

Meanwhile, the minister said around 100 former employees of King Parrot Group have sought help from the Labour Department over HK$9 million in unpaid wages and severance pay.

The group, which owned a number of restaurants, informed staff earlier this week that it was ending its operations.