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No shortage of domestic helpers
Following is a question by the Hon Mrs Peggy Lam, and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Education and Manpower, Miss Jacqueline Willis, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Recently survey results indicate that there is a shortfall of 30,000 domestic helpers in the territory, particularly Chinese maids. This has led to many employers abusing the importation of semi-skilled labour scheme in order to import Chinese domestic helpers. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council:
(a)
(b)
(c)
of the number of prosecutions regarding the abuse of the importation of semi-skilled labour scheme by importing Chinese maids in the past three
years;
what measures does the Government have to curb the problem of abusing the importation of semi-skilled labour scheme; and
whether the Government will consider permitting the importation of Chinese domestic helpers?
Reply:
Mr President,
We have no statistics which indicate that there is a shortfall of domestic helpers or that the shortage is of a particular nationality or ethnicity in Hong Kong. The demand for domestic helpers can be met by local supply and the importation of foreign domestic helpers, which is subject to normal immigration control but no quota ceiling.
On the other hand, under the General Importation of Labour Scheme, all the imported workers are to be employed under a standard Employment Contract for a period of not more than two years. Such imported workers are not allowed to change jobs during their stay in Hong Kong. There are no indications that employers under this Scheme have abused it to hire domestic helpers from China.
My reply, to the three specific parts of the question is as follows:
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