'Govt Should Ensure Fair Treatment For Carers'

Labour and welfare minister Law Chi-kwong said on Sunday that the government is improving its training programme for carers as the sector is "thirsty for talent" - although a care home staff union said more needs to be done to attract new blood.

Writing in his blog, Law said the Social Welfare Department is recruiting 1,200 young people in the next five years to join its programme that offer positions for carers while providing on-the-job training.

Law said a two-year part-time course has been around since 2015, but it is being improved to attract newcomers to the industry. The starting salary for new joiners has been increased to HK$14,150 from HK$11,740, while the working hours have been reduced from 44 to 40 hours a week.

The age range has also been widened for the Navigation Scheme for Young Persons in Care Services. Previously it only accepted people aged between 18 and 25, but now people from 17 to 29 can also apply.

However, a care home staff union said that the administration is still not doing enough to reduce a staffing shortage in the sector.

Community Care and Nursing Home Workers General Union's Isaac Tsang told RTHK that it's more important to ensure that carers are given a reasonable treatment.

"Till now, the carers still need to work around 48 to 51 hours a week... it's not 40 hours a week [like the programme trainees]," he said.

He also dismissed Law's remarks that government-subsidised organisations are offering carers salaries comparable to the civil service.

"The secretary said our monthly salaries can be more than HK$20,000 but no organisations are paying carers that much... In reality we can be paid HK$2,000 less."