Foreign carers for elderly to get 10 to 20% more pay than current helpers

Foreign domestic carers set to receive 10-20% higher pay than current helpers in Hong Kong's new pilot scheme, according to Labour Minister Chris Sun Yuk-han. Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Sun, revealed the details of the arrangement during a press conference, alongside a comprehensive report on strategies for an ageing society. The report outlined 73 measures across 11 areas to address the challenges and opportunities posed by an ageing population.

Sun highlighted the rapid development of the elderly population as having significant economic impacts, necessitating the government's proactive formulation of strategies based on population changes. The pilot scheme to introduce foreign domestic carers aims to tackle manpower shortages stemming from the greying population. Carers under the scheme would need to possess at least three years of experience caring for older people and complete elderly care training recognized by Hong Kong.

The minimum wage for these carers would be 10 to 20% higher than the current helpers' minimum wage of HK$5,100 (US$654) per month. Sun emphasized that families can choose between hiring a foreign helper or a foreign domestic carer, depending on their needs for experience in elderly care. He assured that the scheme would not disrupt the market for foreign helpers, stating that existing helpers wanting to transition to foreign domestic carers would need to return to their home country for additional training and meet other requirements before re-entering Hong Kong.

The initiative, announced last year in the government's policy address, is part of a broader strategy to improve the quality of foreign domestic helpers and provide families with more options. Currently, about 380,000 foreign domestic helpers work in Hong Kong, with the majority from the Philippines, Indonesia, and other countries.

However, Betty Yung Ma Shan-yee, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Employers of Overseas Domestic Helpers Association, expressed concerns about the potential disruption to the current market for domestic helpers. She argued that many existing helpers already possess the necessary training and experience, making specialized carers unnecessary.

Yung also warned about the financial burden on employers, who currently spend approximately HK$7,000 per month on wages and living-in costs for helpers.