Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun on Saturday said that there are measures in place to protect local workers as he was questioned about a government scheme to import labour.

Appearing on an RTHK radio programme, Sun was asked whether he would consider setting a threshold under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme in sectors such as catering, which recently saw its jobless rate reach 5.7 percent.

The recent closures of bakery chain Taipan and restaurant chain Super Star have also resulted in hundreds of workers being laid off.

Speaking to reporters after the programme, Sun said the catering sector typically had high turnover rates.

He also said the government has a rigorous vetting process when it comes to applications to import labour, saying employers have to recruit locally for four weeks.

“For every local worker going to an interview, even if he or she is not employed, we're going to call him up. So we'll give him a call from the Labour Department to make sure that he's not mistreated.”

He also said there was a complaint system for local workers who feel they are being unfairly treated, as well as inspections to make sure employers meet a ratio requirement for full-time local employees to imported workers.