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

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.”