Hong Kong to only admit ‘few hundred’ foreign carers a year under pilot scheme

Hong Kong plans to admit only a small number of skilled foreign domestic carers for the elderly annually through a pilot scheme, according to the welfare minister, Chris Sun Yuk-han. The scheme aims to address concerns about potential disruptions to the existing helper market, with Sun emphasizing a rigorous approach in the initial phase.

Carers recruited under the scheme would need skills equivalent to those of health workers at Hong Kong's elderly care homes. The authorities will collaborate with a recognized Hong Kong organization to accredit training provided by institutions in carers' home countries. Sun stated that the pilot scheme, set to launch next year, will admit only a few hundred foreign domestic carers each year.

He also mentioned that authorities will monitor the impact of the scheme on families and assess its overall effectiveness. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's announcement of the pilot scheme, modeled after the existing foreign domestic helper regime, aims to meet the home-care needs of older residents. The plan includes higher minimum wages for these carers, though it has raised concerns among employers about potential disruptions to the current helper market.

Critics questioned the necessity of a separate category of workers, considering that many of Hong Kong's over 378,000 foreign domestic helpers already care for elderly people, and warned that the new scheme could lead to increased wages or workers quitting for the new employment opportunity.