A group of about 50 migrant workers embroiled in a pay dispute with a middleman will be back on site on Thursday at a public hospital project in Hong Kong after authorities intervened.

The case unfolded on Monday when about 30 plasterers from mainland China protested outside the construction site at United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong, saying their management company in Shenzhen had charged exorbitant intermediary fees and other costs.

They were allegedly later fired by the mainland company, which was also accused of docking their wages.

The Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union said the firm had demanded the workers each fork out HK$6,000 (US$770) from their wages, which were about HK$30,000 per person including overtime pay, to secure jobs in the city in the future.

The employees refused and were then sacked.

The union said on Wednesday the workers had their original contracts reinstated without the need to sign new ones, and they would resume work on Thursday.

The Hospital Authority stepped in on Monday, saying it was highly concerned about the incident and had told the main contractor to properly manage the dispute and ensure it was resolved according to contract terms to protect workers’ interests...