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

Hong Kong plans to admit a limited number of skilled foreign domestic caregivers for the elderly per year through a pilot scheme, according to the welfare minister. The scheme aims to address concerns about potential disruptions to the existing helper market by ensuring that recruited carers possess skills equivalent to those of health workers at elderly care homes in Hong Kong.

Headed by Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han, the pilot will be overseen by a recognized Hong Kong organization that will accredit training provided by institutions in carers' home countries. Sun emphasized that the pilot is a rigorous approach to managing potential concerns. The government expects to bring in only a few hundred foreign domestic carers annually after the pilot, which is set to launch next year.

Additionally, authorities will monitor the impact of the measure on families and evaluate its overall effectiveness. The initiative, modeled on Hong Kong's existing foreign domestic helper regime, was announced in the Chief Executive's annual policy address, targeting a requirement for more advanced training and experience in elderly care.

Carers under the scheme must have experience caring for the elderly and undergo relevant training in their home countries. The minimum wage for these carers will be 10 to 20 percent higher than that for existing helpers, whose current minimum is HK$5,100 (US$654) per month. However, the plan has raised concerns among some employers, who fear it could disrupt the existing helper market, drive up wages, and make care unaffordable for low-income older residents.

Critics also questioned the necessity of a separate category of workers when many of the city's over 378,000 foreign domestic helpers already care for elderly individuals, potentially leading to increased demands for pay or resignation among existing helpers, further straining families' finances.