The problem of insufficient manpower in institutions has existed for many years. Under the fifth wave of the epidemic, there have been frequent outbreaks of institutions in Hong Kong, and the manpower has become even more severe.
During the fifth wave, the Bureau of Labor and Welfare proposed to recruit more nursing homes, including relaxing some of the requirements for nursing homes to import nursing staff through the "Supplementary Labor Scheme" within a time limit.
The Labour Department said that during the relaxation period, a total of 736 applications had been made, of which 660 had been approved as of June 10, involving 3,312 care workers.
However, the elderly care industry has repeatedly stated that it is not easy to hire foreign workers to serve as caregivers in residential care homes.
Some institutions noticed that during the fifth wave of the epidemic, the SWD directly hired caregivers from the Mainland with a three-month contract to complete their contracts. To fill manpower vacancies, more than 10 Mainland caregivers have been successfully hired.
▼Under the fifth wave of the epidemic, many elderly homes have confirmed cases▼
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736 applications involving 3,620 care workers during the relaxation period
The Labour Department's reply to "Hong Kong 01" stated that during the period of relaxation of the importation of foreign workers in residential care homes, that is, from March 1 to May 31 this year, a total of 736 applications were received, involving 3,620 nursing staff. As of June 10, Of the 660 applications, nearly 90% of them have been approved, involving 3,312 nursing staff.
Among the approved applications, 37 were submitted by subsidized institutions, involving 165 care workers; the remaining 623 applications were submitted by other institutions, involving 3,147 care workers.
After the application is approved, the home can apply to the Immigration Department for a visa or entry permit for the imported care worker to be employed within a 6-month period.
According to industry estimates, the average manpower vacancy rate in residential care homes is 25%. Based on the current staff of about 45,000, there are more than 11,000 manpower vacancies.
The above-mentioned 660 cases have been approved, involving 3,312 nursing staff. If all of them are successfully recruited, it is expected that nearly 30% of the vacancies will be filled, reducing the average staff vacancy rate to about 15%.
Elderly Commission Li Hui: Life in the Mainland is affluent, even if there are places available, it is not easy to apply
Li Hui, an operator of a residential care home for the elderly and a member of the Elderly Affairs Committee, said that the number of foreign workers involved in the approved applications has far exceeded the average number of the past 10 years. .
However, she admitted that "it is not easy to find people if there are (foreign worker) places." She continued to explain that now that life in the mainland is becoming more prosperous, people are no longer willing to leave their hometowns and work in Hong Kong. In addition, the repeated epidemics in Hong Kong also make them Concerned about coming to work in Hong Kong.
Li Hui believes that the Mainland caregivers directly employed by the SWD have experience in caring for the elderly in Hong Kong and are willing to work in Hong Kong. If they can "turn around" and work as caregivers in institutions, it will help solve the manpower problem in institutions.
(File photo/Photo by Su Weiran)
SWD Mainland caregivers can return to the Mainland after completing their contract and can stay in Hong Kong to work in residential care homes. "Win-win"
In March this year, the SWD also directly employed care workers from the Mainland, who were trained to work in different isolation facilities and respite centers.
According to what the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Law Chi-kwong, mentioned at the Legislative Council meeting earlier, the SWD has recruited 762 Mainland caregivers. As the situation stabilizes, the department has no plan to renew the employment. The batch of Mainland caregivers has been completed one after another. Will return to the mainland after the appointment.
Li Hui also noticed that the contracts of these mainland caregivers are expiring one after another. She believes that they have experience in caring for the elderly in Hong Kong and are willing to work in Hong Kong. Solving the problem of manpower in institutions is also faster than recruiting through intermediary companies in the Mainland.
She then made inquiries with the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Social Welfare Department and the Immigration Department respectively. In the end, she successfully hired more than 10 Mainland caregivers who had been directly employed by the SWD. They were transferred to imported foreign workers to work as caregivers in her home with a monthly salary. It is about 14,000 yuan, the same as the general imported care worker.
She described the practice of "turning around in place" like a foreign domestic helper who is fired by an employer in Hong Kong can apply for an extension of stay in Hong Kong, and can continue to stay in Hong Kong if hired by a new employer.
▼Wan Chai Harbour Road Sports Centre will set up a respite center for the elderly▼
There are still 143 mainland caregivers in Hong Kong. Li Hui calls on employers to take the initiative: be quick and slow.
The SWD's reply mentioned that 143 of the 762 care workers on temporary contracts in the Mainland are currently in Hong Kong.
As the SWD has no plan to renew the employment at present, if individual contract care workers have already been employed by residential care homes in Hong Kong before their original return to the Mainland, the SWD will try their best to cooperate with the arrangement.
As of June 11, 17 Mainland caregivers were employed by institutions through the Supplementary Labour Scheme and stayed in Hong Kong to work.
Li Hui pointed out that if the operator of the residential care home intends to employ these mainland caregivers who are still in Hong Kong, they can contact them through an intermediary company. Enter permission.
However, there are still more than 143 Mainland caregivers still in Hong Kong. It is suggested that employers who intend to employ them should take the initiative.
▼2.21 Kwun Tong Choi Wing Road Gymnasium Temporary Care Center accepts those who are waiting for admission▼
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