Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun issued a sharp warning to foreign domestic helpers on 12 October: those who break existing contracts to join the government’s Imported Elderly Caregivers Pilot Scheme risk being blacklisted from future employment in Hong Kong. Sun’s remarks came during a Legislative Council welfare panel meeting that examined concerns about wage inflation and training standards under the new programme. Under the pilot, care-home operators can recruit caregivers from Indonesia, the Philippines and other source markets after candidates complete at least 150 hours of accredited training overseas. Lawmakers expressed fears that some 340,000 resident domestic helpers might prematurely terminate household contracts to chase higher elderly-care wages, leaving families suddenly without support. Sun said the Labour Department is tightening vetting of overseas training institutes and will share contract-termination data with the Immigration Department. Helpers who quit “without sufficient cause” within the first two years of a standard household contract could be barred from receiving new visas for an extended period. Industry groups supported the stance, arguing it prevents opportunistic job-hopping and protects households from unexpected turnover. For care-home operators, however, the message is mixed. While the blacklist deters poaching, operators remain under pressure to fill roughly 5,000 caregiver vacancies before 2027 as Hong Kong’s over-65 population surges. Recruitment agencies now have to prove overseas trainees are genuinely new entrants and not existing helpers changing categories. Families employing domestic helpers should review contract terms and ensure they provide statutory benefits—such as weekly rest days and medical coverage—to minimise attrition that could now carry immigration consequences for the worker.
Source: The Standard
