Hong Kong to pilot foreign home carers by late 2027 with 150-hour training
Hong Kong's labour chief said a pilot scheme for foreign home carers will launch in the second half of 2027, requiring at least 150 hours of training. The government also announced a digital version of the JoyYou card for seniors, offering faster location updates for dementia patients and access to
Hong Kong's Secretary for Labour and Welfare told reporters on 4 October that the city's pilot scheme for foreign home carers is expected to begin in the second half of next year, with only a few hundred participants initially.
The secretary said the government must ensure training programmes in source countries meet Hong Kong standards. Local accredited organisations will be commissioned to verify that course content, hours and assessments align with requirements. Training will last at least 150 hours, comparable to the requirement for local residential care home assistants.
To address concerns about existing foreign domestic helpers switching roles, the secretary stressed that switching is not allowed locally. Helpers must return to their home countries, pay for the 150-hour course, and pass a government-supervised assessment. Even then, places are limited to a few hundred, making the transition unlikely for most.
On the proposed 'public-build, private-operate' model for elderly care homes, the secretary said the government will continue increasing funding for subsidised services, particularly in grassroots areas. The new model, likely run by non-government organisations, targets districts with more diverse, middle-class needs. Users may still use community care vouchers or residential care vouchers.
A digital version of the JoyYou card for seniors will launch by end of 2026, the secretary announced. Features include faster, more accurate location updates for dementia patients who wander, and links to commercial discounts and social welfare offers.
Data from the first four months of the 'two-dollar, 20 per cent discount' fare scheme showed government subsidy per trip fell about 8 per cent, and trips costing over HK$10 also dropped about 8 per cent. The secretary said the figures may reflect seniors choosing cheaper routes to maximise the discount, rather than reduced travel overall. A fuller analysis is expected after one year of operation.
