Hong Kong to limit skilled foreign carer pilot scheme to 'a few hundred' annually
Welfare minister Chris Sun promises ‘rigorous’ approach for scheme to recruit skilled carers, following concerns of helper market disruption
Quick Look
- Hong Kong will cap its upcoming pilot scheme for skilled foreign domestic carers at a few hundred recruits per year.
- Welfare minister Chris Sun stated the program will be strictly regulated to prevent market disruption and ensure skills match local care home standards.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The government is introducing a pilot scheme to recruit skilled foreign domestic carers for the elderly. This follows public discussion regarding potential impacts on the existing domestic helper market.
Hong Kong will admit “only a few hundred” skilled foreign domestic carers for the elderly annually under a coming pilot scheme, the welfare minister has said, promising a “rigorous” approach in response to concerns about possible disruptions to the existing helper market.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han also said on Thursday that those recruited under the scheme would need skills equivalent to those of health workers at Hong Kong’s care homes for the elderly.
He added that authorities would engage a recognised Hong Kong organisation to accredit training provided by institutions in carers’ home countries.
“I want to emphasise that this is a pilot as I noticed that after we announced the scheme, some people thought it was good, while others had concerns,” he told lawmakers during a Legislative Council meeting. “We will be very rigorous in the initial phase.”
Open Questions
- Which specific organizations will be selected for accreditation?
- What are the exact criteria for the 'skilled' designation?
