The Government will launch the next phase of the Pilot Scheme on Training for Foreign Domestic Helpers (FDHs) in Elderly Care in October to enhance FDHs' skills in taking care of the elderly.

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong made the announcement while answering lawmakers' questions in the Legislative Council today.

The Social Welfare Department rolled out phase I of the scheme in March 2018 to train helpers in skills for providing care for the elderly as they play a major role in that aspect in many families, Dr Law said.

It provided 300 training places initially and an additional 950 training places in May 2019.

Phase II of the scheme will be implemented between October this year and September 2023, providing about 1,350 training places.

Dr Law noted that unlike phase I, the department will commission a training institute as a pilot to provide training for helpers and will decide on the way forward for the scheme after reviewing the outcome of the new phase.

The welfare chief also pointed out that the Government has been making its best effort to provide assistance and facilitation to helpers and their employers in the face of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The measures put in place include allowing employers to extend the validity period of the existing contracts with their outgoing FDHs for a maximum of three months, and further extending the special arrangement for helpers to defer their return to their place of origin.

Dr Law added that the Immigration Department has deployed its manpower to expedite the processing of new applications so that FDHs could report for duty in Hong Kong as soon as possible.

The Labour Department will also maintain contact with the governments of helper source countries and their consulates general in Hong Kong to encourage their nationals to work as FDHs in Hong Kong to meet the long-term demand of local families.