'Enhance Child Care Services So That Mums Can Work'

Labour unionists on Sunday said the lack of child care services in Hong Kong is forcing many of the city’s mothers to stay home, despite the full resumption of face-to-face classes.

The Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions interviewed 736 mothers of kindergarten or primary school children, between January and February this year.

It found that half of these respondents did not have a job, and 93 percent of them attributed that to the lack of child care services in the city.

The federation’s chairman, Lam Chun-sing, said even though full-day classes have resumed, many mothers are still unable to find work.

“Most of the primary school lessons end at three or four o’clock in the afternoon. Most of the companies want to recruit employees who are available from morning to evening time. It’s still difficult for mothers to join the workforce,” he said.

"The government can input some resources to recruit NGOs or child care workers, so they can enter schools and take care of the students until the evening. After work, their parents can go to the school and pick them up."

Financial Secretary Paul Chan had announced in his budget blueprint last month that he would set aside HK$100 million to strengthen support for women's development, including helping them take up different roles in the job market.

Lam urged the government to do more to help mothers find jobs, in order to unleash the full potential of the local female labour force.