The Energy Ltd: A Threat from COVID-19 in a Third-party Logistics (3PL) Company

The logistics industry in Hong Kong faced significant disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in major delays in delivering essential goods, particularly hygiene products critical for preventing infections. The challenges brought on by the pandemic further aggravated an existing labour shortage in the industry. The physical demands of work performed by porters, including packing and delivering goods, made remote work unfeasible, unlike in many other professions. This situation highlighted the broader impact of COVID-19 on labour-intensive jobs that could not align with the growing work-from-home (WFH) trend. It raised pressing questions about addressing the immediate labour shortage, especially regarding delivering essential hygiene products to the public. The case encouraged discussions on potential solutions to mitigate the labour crisis while ensuring the consistent and timely supply of critical goods to the community amidst ongoing challenges.