The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Women's Day | Groups that have difficulties in family work and work together launch three special plans to help housewives return to the workplace

2021-03-08T01:10:24.820Z


Many women are the main force in taking care of their families, and at the same time they give up job opportunities because of their families. However, there are also women who hope to return to the workplace and reduce the financial pressure on their families. It is never easy to take care of family and work, they need to be more flexible


Community topics

Written by: Zeng Fengting

2021-03-08 09:00

Last update date: 2021-03-08 09:00

Many women are the main force in taking care of their families, and at the same time they give up job opportunities because of their families. However, there are also women who hope to return to the workplace and reduce the financial pressure on their families.

It is never easy to balance family and work. They need more flexible working hours to allow them to take care of family and children at the same time. Various restrictions make it more difficult for women to find a job.

Some groups provide a series of women-friendly work plans, provide employment support to women, and encourage employers to provide more women-friendly positions so that they can easily return to the workplace.

The Hong Kong Association of Women's Centers (hereinafter referred to as the Association) launched the "Friendly Jobs Can Be Found" Women's Friendly Employment Program in 2019, which aims to assist women in planning and finding jobs that meet their life needs, so that they can return to the workplace.

The plan includes providing women with job search training, employment support, encouraging employers to provide more women-friendly jobs, and providing cheaper childcare services.

I want to help make up for the family but I am afraid that my children will be left unattended

Ms. Zeng, who has benefited from the plan and has a 5-year-old daughter, recalled that because she was mainly taking care of her daughter, she had no job for a while, and her family’s expenditure could only depend on her husband’s income and only savings, so she was eager to find a job to help. Family care, but also worried that there will be no one to take care of the young daughter.

Ms. Zeng has also worked as a part-time job, but after her uncle who is temporarily living in Hong Kong leaves Hong Kong, she needs to take care of her daughter full-time. return".

Ms. Zeng recalled that because she was mainly taking care of her daughter, she had no work for a period of time. The family's expenditure could only depend on her husband's income and only savings. So she was eager to find a job to help make up for the family, but she was worried that her young daughter would be left unattended.

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

She also sought help from her family to take care of her daughter, so that she could work and help with the family. "The mother-in-law doesn't live in Hong Kong, and the grandmother is not in good health, and it is not too convenient."

She thinks that taking care of both work and families with children in Hong Kong is a big problem. "Even if you are reworking dual jobs, I still have to pay to hire foreign domestic helpers, and I don't have a place to live."

She is worried that if she is a casual worker, and in case of an emergency in the family, she will need to take temporary leave. The employer may not understand that the family's worries have prevented her from returning to the workplace.

Ms. Zeng is worried that her daughter will be left unattended after she goes out to work.

(Respondents provide pictures)

In order to find a stable job, Ms. Zeng obtained a nursing license a few years ago and originally planned to join the nursing industry. However, most nursing jobs require night shifts, which cannot meet her needs for taking care of children, so she had to give up.

At the end of 2019, she happened to encounter the Hong Kong Women's Center Association Street Station and learned that the association provides childcare and help women find jobs. With the help of the staff, Ms. Zeng successfully found a full-time job.

She is currently working as a home care worker in a social welfare agency. "It returns to 8:30 and closes at 5:30. It is at least OT. She usually leaves work on time and is close to the area. You can ask for leave if you are in a hurry."

Ms. Zeng’s daughter can be temporarily placed in the center during her working hours.

(Profile picture)

And her daughter can be temporarily placed in the center during her working hours, "Because it is in the same district, I can go directly to pick up the drain after finishing work. The service provided is more average than in the market, and it runs late. The point is that I will afford it. Affordable."

In the end, Ms. Zeng was able to help her daughter get proper care at the same time.

Most employers find it difficult to accept "coming late and leaving early", making it difficult for women to take care of their families

Lin Xuehua, the owner of a cleaning company who participated in the "Friendly Jobs Can Be Found" program to provide mothers and friendly women who have worked for many years, said that many women intend to work, but because they need to take care of their children all day, they can only use their scattered time to do part-time jobs. It is more difficult to find a job.

Women also often need to take time off to take care of their children because of their children’s activities and holidays, which may not be accepted by employers.

Lin Xuehua, the owner of the cleaning company, is well aware of women’s needs, and believes that providing flexible working hours, such as mothers, can help some people in need, such as basic-level families with high financial pressure: "Don’t you dare to help more than half of the food. My husband has a share of food. At the same time as helping him, we can also solve the manpower problem."

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

Lin Xuehua believes that this is the difficulty that women face now.

She once encountered an employee who was late all of a sudden. After questioning, she found out that she had to send her children to school before she could go to work. She was late but was temporarily unable to find someone to help.

After understanding the reasons for the matter, Lin Xuehua decided to allow employees to work flexibly, so that she could take care of her work without giving up taking care of her children.

"I have a pair of sons and daughters. Although Yijia is a big one, I have experienced them all and understand them."

She thinks that providing some flexible working hours can help people in need, such as basic-level families under financial pressure. "Don’t you dare to help me. A half food is better than a husband’s food. At the same time, I can help you. You can also solve the manpower problem."

Women who have left the workplace for many years worry about being out of touch

Yang Haiyan, Senior Education Officer of the Hong Kong Women’s Center Association, said that in the past, many housewives have been in contact with their services. They have been away from the workplace for many years and still want to return to work to help with their families, but they have no way of starting. For more than ten years, if you want to go back, you have to make some preparations."

Therefore, the association has set up "friendships to be found" to assist them.

Yang Haiyan, senior education officer of the Hong Kong Women’s Center Association, said that in the past, many housewives have been exposed to their services. They have been away from the workplace for many years and still want to return to work to help with their families, but they have no way of starting.

(Photo by Zeng Fengting)

She pointed out that as of mid-January, 50 women have benefited from the plan, and 43 companies are willing to provide them with women-friendly positions, including domestic helpers, nanny, office cleaners, catering, packaging and sales staff.

In addition to providing employment support to women, the plan also provides job hunting training. "Because women often think that they are too patient to do things, there is nothing in the past few years, but in fact, it’s not because they don’t know how to change. Employers know.”

The association also acts as an intermediary to communicate with employers regarding women's situations, and teaches women how to grasp past experience and transform it into a substantial resume.

Should be backed by childcare services

Even if women succeed in employment, they still have to face other problems, such as no one to take care of their children.

Yang Haiyan pointed out that the association also needs to provide support services, so childcare services are provided in the "Friendly Jobs Can Be Found" program, so that they have no worries.

She believes that there is a huge demand for childcare. The association alone has registered more than 200 families, hoping to use childcare services.

Yang Haiyan pointed out that if women want to return to work without any worries, they need to promote the universalization of childcare services, but they cannot rely solely on non-governmental organizations. She believes that the government should take the leading role and make nanny work full-time and treat them as employees. Non-volunteer workers, affirm their contribution, I believe it will help liberate more women in the labor force.

Women's pressure explodes under the epidemic. Picture 1 Wok-familiar Association: The scene of walking on the tightrope happens almost every day

Luo Zhiguang: Happy to see companies supporting women in the workplace will promote family-friendly employment measures

Budget 2021|Not mentioned in the neighborhood support child care program, entrepreneurial women are disappointed

The year of the ox is here | Housewives start a business to find their self-worth

Taking care of the family, discriminated against, domestic violence, choosing dumb and tolerant disabled women into double disadvantages

01Community

Working Women International Women's Day Family-friendly Employers Workplace Women

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2021-03-08

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.