Why has the number of community nannies in Hong Kong plunged in the past year?
The number of community nannies under a Hong Kong childcare programme declined sharply by more than 40 per cent from 2023 to last year, with industry players attributing the dip partly to carers' fears over abuse allegations following an earlier scandal that tarnished the service.
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There were a total of 1,043 nannies recruited to provide care for children at home or in community centres between April and December 2024 under the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project, according to official statistics submitted to the
Legislative Council 's Finance Committee by the Labour and Welfare Bureau earlier this week.
The figure dropped sharply by 41 per cent from 1,770 recorded over the same period in 2023.
'Some doubted their own abilities to take care of children or meet parents' high demands, while some also worried about being suspected of child abuse,' said Jessie Yu Sau-chu, chief executive of the Hong Kong Single Parents Association.
'The supply of community nannies has already fallen short of demand, and what makes it worse is that there are fewer newcomers.'
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The association runs the service in Sha Tin and has 56 nannies, and offers the nannies regular abuse prevention training.
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