Editorial | Find out why there is a shortage of nannies in Hong Kong
Fewer childcare workers are entering or staying in industry, an issue that has huge implications for Hong Kong families who need support
A seasonal fluctuation in manpower supply may not necessarily ring alarm bells. But a plunge in childcare workers under a subsidised welfare scheme should not be dismissed lightly, especially when the industry is undergoing changes fuelled by institutional reforms.
According to the government, only 1,043 “community nannies” were providing care for children at home or in centres between April and December 2024 under the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project. The number represented a 41 per cent drop from 1,770 over the same period in 2023.
It is worth nothing that nannies were required to undergo more job training in the wake of a high-profile child abuse case in January last year. Separately, a law was passed the same year mandating medical professionals, social workers, teachers and childcare staff to report suspected cases of serious harm involving children.
While it may be difficult to determine whether the manpower decrease is related to the law and the training, it would not be surprising if someone wanted to think twice before joining or staying in the industry.
In addition to 14 hours of basic job training covering the physical and psychological development of infants and young children, home safety and hygiene, those who fail to report child abuse cases face punishment ranging from a HK$50,000 (US$6,400) fine to three months in jail, depending on the severity of the case.
Launched in 2008, the childcare scheme gives needy parents a flexible form of day care service at the neighbourhood level.