Elderly care homes in Hong Kong are facing a manpower shortage due to a new imported labor scheme that has left some existing non-local workers without a work permit. The scheme, launched in June, aims to import 1,003 care workers for residential care homes, but the first round of approvals only granted permits to 370 homes, leaving many with a shortage of staff.
Grace Li Fai, a member of the Elderly Services Association’s executive council, expressed concern that the scheme did not take into account the needs of the industry and unfairly limited the allocation of quotas. She argued that the first-come, first-approved approach disadvantaged applicants who were not familiar with the online application process. Li also highlighted the lack of convergence between the new scheme and a previous relaxation of labor importation during the pandemic, which allowed care homes to hire foreign staff temporarily.
The potential consequences of the manpower shortage are significant, as care homes may struggle to provide adequate services to elderly residents. Workers who are currently employed in the industry but cannot secure a quota under the new scheme may have to leave the SAR, further exacerbating the manpower gap. Even for care homes that did receive quotas in the first round, it could take up to two months for the approved workers to arrive due to the large number of applications being processed.
Li cited two examples to illustrate the discrepancies in the allocation of quotas. One care home with 100 vacancies was granted permission to import 15 workers, while another home operated by the same company with 300 vacancies did not receive any allocation at all. This uneven distribution of quotas raises concerns about the fairness and effectiveness of the scheme.
To address the issue, care homes that were not allocated quotas in the first round will have to wait for the later rounds of the scheme in the coming months. However, with the potential delays in securing workers and the ongoing need for elderly care, the situation remains challenging for care homes.
It is crucial for the government to work closely with industry stakeholders to find a more equitable and efficient solution to the manpower shortage in elderly care homes. The welfare and well-being of the elderly population should be a top priority, and ensuring a sufficient workforce is essential to providing quality care services.
The next rounds of the imported labor scheme will be closely watched to see if adjustments are made to address the concerns raised by industry professionals. The allocation of quotas should consider the specific needs of care homes and the experience of non-local workers currently employed in the industry. Only through a fair and transparent process can the manpower gap be effectively bridged, and the elderly population receive the care they deserve.
