Boost sought for helpers' status to attract more local workers
The Government is being urged to give domestic helpers a more professional status to encourage younger local people to take up the work.
The Education and Manpower Bureau on Thursday began consulting district councillors on a package of proposals to promote jobs for local maids to combat unemployment.
One of the district councils, Southern, broadly supported the plans, but said the Government should have a clear and long-term labour policy.
Wong Che-ngai, a member of the council and a principal of the Southern District Arts Academy in Ap Lei Chau, said: 'In the long term, we should teach the public that domestic work is a professional job. We should raise domestic workers' status in society.'
The Government's plans include upgrading the skills of local domestic helpers, setting up a new local domestic helper employment service under the Employees Retraining Board and encouraging employers to hire part-time locals. A pilot scheme will be launched in April.
Ronnie Wong Man-chiu, company director of the family-owned Wong's Investments Holdings and executive director of Argos Enterprise (Holdings), said he supported the Government's moves.