Beijing introduces measures to facilitate SARs’ jobs on mainland

Work permit requirements for mainland employees from Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan will be abolished, thus residents of the three regions will no longer need additional documentation for job purposes, the State Council announced on Friday.

In a State Council meeting last month, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had already announced that the government was set to eliminate 17 administrative regulations that previously governed business development in a bid to facilitate economic integration.

On Friday, the State Council said: “Following the abolishment, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security will introduce support measures to further facilitate Hong Kong and Macau residents to work and start a business on the mainland.”

On its website, the council said that it also ordered the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security to formulate and improve the detailed oversight rules for employment services, social security, unemployment registration and labor rights protection for eligible groups after the change.

The work permit system has been in place since 2004.

Under its requirements, mainland companies should prove that the employees they wish to hire from the three regions are qualified and that such a position cannot be filled by locals.

According to reports, up to 10 items of paperwork were needed from companies for its employees to be granted a work permit issued by the municipal human resources department.

Hong Kong’s largest political party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, welcomed the move, noting that it shows the central government’s care for the region.

They also added that it would encourage Hong Kong residents to pursue careers in the mainland. 

“This measure could enable Hongkongers to freely choose their professions just like other mainland residents,” the Democratic Alliance said in a statement.