Social enterprise helps senior citizens in Hong Kong to start new careers in its restaurants
- Gingko House has hired more than 3,000 elderly workers in the past 15 years
- Its employees include retired teachers, civil servants and office workers
A social enterprise which has been involved in the food and beverage business in Hong Kong since 2003 not only welcomes lovers of regional delicacies, but also opens the doors for many older people to restart their careers.
Over the past 15 years, Gingko House has hired more than 3,000 elderly workers.
General manager Kenneth Choi Man-kin said the restaurant chain had long been a keen supporter of employment for senior citizens.
“We form an effective team by integrating our older workers’ experience with younger managers’ expertise,” he said.
Gingko House has created multiple business divisions, including restaurants and an organic farm supplying these outlets with fresh organic produce.
We form an effective team by integrating our older workers’ experience with younger managers’ expertise
Each of the six restaurants is staffed mostly by elderly employees from different backgrounds. Many of them are retired civil servants, teachers and office workers. The average age of the employees is 68.