Foreign carer scheme may drive up wages, leave poor without help, employers warn

A new pilot scheme to bring in foreign domestic carers for the elderly to deal with an ageing population could disrupt Hong Kong’s existing helper market, driving up wages and putting care beyond the reach of low-income older residents, some employers and agencies have warned.

They said the measure, announced by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in his policy address on Wednesday, was likely to prompt existing helpers to demand higher pay or quit to take up the new employment opportunity, adding to families’ financial burden.

Authorities revealed on Friday that the minimum wage for carers under the pilot scheme would be 10 to 20 per cent higher than that for existing helpers. The current minimum allowable wage for helpers is HK$5,100 (US$654) a month.

Betty Yung Ma Shan-yee, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Employers of Domestic Helpers Association, said 30 per cent of the city’s more than 378,000 foreign domestic helpers were already caring for elderly people, questioning the need for a separate category of workers.