Many domestic workers anywhere in the world are familiar with work involving taking care of young children as well as older people.
However, working as a domestic helper does not necessarily involve this specific function, which is typically more of a caregiver’s role inside a household.
From Domestic Helpers to Exclusive Caregivers: A New Trend in Hong Kong
Filipino domestic helpers with background training as caregivers are now being offered jobs in Hong Kong that no longer require them to perform unrelated housework, as shared in a report by the Sun.
As per Philippine-based recruitment agency head Fred Palmiery, who explained during an interview at the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) last January 22 that he had already placed over 100 Filipinos in Hong Kong for this type of job.
The recruitment was apparently conducted by Palmiery’s firm in Manila, Concorde International Human Resource Corporation, and its Hong Kong counterpart, Active Global Specialised Caregivers.
However, the actual number of Filipino workers given the role as live-in caregivers is reportedly higher, as there have already been doing this job in Hong Kong when they were hired.
Most, if not all of the caregivers, are reportedly being paid more than the minimum wage, and at least one claimed to have been given HKD 12,000 a month.
Based on Active Global’s website, a caregiver’s salary is said to begin at HKD 5,000, and could even go higher, depending on the worker’s experience and credentials. There is no fee collected from these workers, but the employer is charged a whopping HKD 19,800 to bring in a trained caregiver from the Philippines.
As per the quality or standard of caregiver training given to Filipino workers in Hong Kong, Palmiery cited the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as an optimal certifying body to provide national certification (NCII) assessment of the caregiver trainees in Hong Kong.
Palmiery added that obtaining an NCII certificate for caregivers could improve the chances of OFWs in getting higher paying jobs not only in Hong Kong but in many parts of the world, where there are high demand for elderly health care, as well.