SLW observes training course for Mainland contract care workers (with photos/video)
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Accompanied by the person-in-charge of the training centre and officers of the Social Welfare Department (SWD), Dr Law observed a practical training session and was briefed on the course structure. Dr Law also showed his support for the trainees and expressed his appreciation for their willingness to leave their homes and travel to Hong Kong to take up short-term contract jobs amid the severe epidemic situation, thereby easing the acute manpower shortage of care workers locally.
Dr Law said, "The fifth wave of the epidemic has put residential care homes (RCHs) under immense manpower pressure. To provide the manpower urgently needed to take care of the elderly, persons with disabilities and the needy who are required to undergo quarantine or isolation, the SWD has been recruiting contract care workers both locally and from the Mainland. Upon receiving training in areas such as nursing and infection control skills, they will be deployed to work in holding centres, community isolation facilities, quarantine centres or RCHs. To achieve the target of 'reducing deaths, critical cases and infections', the SWD will continue to work with RCHs and provide them with comprehensive support to strengthen anti-epidemic measures and overcome the difficulties arising from the epidemic."
The SWD has been directly recruiting contract care workers from the Mainland since early March and 180 have arrived in Hong Kong so far. Upon arrival, they will undergo a three-day training course on nursing and caring skills. Together with this batch of trainees, some 120 of them will be serving at various holding centres by the end of this week. In addition, the SWD is progressively arranging training for other care workers in the coming week. The SWD is also continuing with the local recruitment and actively processing applications, with priority consideration given to those who can start work at the earliest opportunity.
Ends/Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:49
Issued at HKT 16:49
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Audio / Video
SLW observes training course for Mainland contract care workers