Coronavirus: 56 per cent of Hong Kong care homes have infections, city to bring in 1,000 temporary workers from mainland China

With the industry facing a manpower shortage, authorities have waived a local recruitment requirement, bringing in 1,000 temporary care workers

As of Monday, more than 2,900 care home residents and 865 workers had tested positive for Covid-19

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Elderly residents are evacuated from a local care home in late January after a staff member there contracted the coronavirus. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 12:42pm, 1 Mar 2022Updated: 7:36pm, 1 Mar 2022

Hong Kong is hiring 1,000 temporary care workers from mainland China and waiving local recruitment rules amid a shortage of staff at elderly care homes, as more than half of such facilities in the city have reported Covid-19 infections.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong on Tuesday revealed that some care homes had seen almost all their staff and residents infected, adding that the industry was facing a manpower shortage as more employees either caught Covid-19 or had to be quarantined.

“Many care homes have at least half of their manpower unable to work [due to Covid-19]; this is a really huge problem,” Law told a radio programme.

As of Tuesday, 59 per cent – or 615 – of care homes for the elderly and disabled had reported cases, with more than 3,150 residents and 900 workers testing positive so far.

“Although we have been making preparations since January, our speed could not catch up with the wave of infections. We are facing a very severe crisis,” Law said.

Law had previously revealed that the city would urgently employ 1,000 temporary contract care workers from the mainland for the elderly, people with disabilities and children at isolation facilities and holding centres.

Elaborating on Tuesday, he said there was no special criteria for the recruitment, meaning people without experience could apply.

“[The only criteria] is that they must be Cantonese speakers. Local workers are also welcome,” he said. “They cannot start work immediately. We need to provide three days of basic training for them as most do not have relevant experience.”