Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong who are interested in becoming live-in caregivers may soon receive the necessary training without having to return to the Philippines. This is in relation to the city’s upcoming pilot scheme of hiring foreign domestic carers to look after elderly people.
The statement was made by Labor Attaché Cesar Chavez Jr. on Sunday, 27 September 2026 at the sidelines of the awarding ceremonies for the first OWWA Cup in Hong Kong, which was held at the OFW Global Center.
Caregiver Training for Filipino Workers in HK Soon
Regarding the caregiver training, Chavez said this was evident during discussions with Hong Kong officials on the foreign domestic carer scheme, which will be rolled out in the coming year, The Sun Hong Kong reported.
Earlier this year, in June, a technical working group consisting of Philippine and Hong Kong officials discussed possible collaborations on the certification, upskilling, and reskilling of OFWs in the city. During these talks, the matter of caregiver training was mentioned, Chavez explained.
Onsite Training for Filipino Domestic Helpers
At the meeting, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Chief Patricia Yvonne Caunan told Hong Kong officials about the Philippine government’s plan to provide onsite training for Filipino domestic helpers. Also joining the discussions were officials from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), who informed Hong Kong officials about its training programs and accreditation schemes.
Chavez clarified that although Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong may be allowed to train for caregiver jobs, they need to finish their current contracts before applying for a new job.
Higher Pay for Foreign Domestic Carers
On Friday, 18 September, Hong Kong Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun announced that under the pilot scheme, the salary for live-in caregivers is 10% to 20% higher than the minimum wage for foreign domestic helpers. However, he said that they must have at least three years of experience in elderly care; they also need to complete training in their home countries before starting their jobs in Hong Kong.
The upcoming foreign domestic caregivers scheme is part of the government’s efforts to provide care for Hong Kong’s ageing population. It is projected that by 2046, one in every three people in the city will be 60 years old and above, leading to the need for greater elderly care.
There are currently about 370,000 foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong, and majority or more than half — around 200,000 — are from the Philippines. With the new domestic carer scheme and caregiver training, many of these workers can expect to “upskill” and earn higher salaries.