Helpers in China - Why not?

[7jai]

I recently read an article regarding China's plans on launching all these different tasks force to support the low birth rate, etc. One of those points were "high cost of child care".

In Hong Kong, we have the 'luxury' of hiring cheap domestic helpers to help us run the day-to-day operations at home. Without it, I think the birth population would drop even more significantly than it already has since the latest emmigration wave.

When I speak to some of my friends in China, they all complain about how hiring help/day care are super expensive which is putting them off on having more than 1 child (or any for that fact). That got me thinking on why China doesn't allow Domestic Helpers to enter China market? Wouldn't that situation help the China population and alleviate the pressures in households?

Yes, this would incredibly suck for Hong Kong, as the prices of domestic help may go up dramatically as that would mean more demand is needed in Mainland China to compete with - but just for argument's sake, why isn't China exploring that option?


https://www.reuters.com/world/china/...re-2023-05-15/

[Elefant&Castle]

In Hong Kong, we have the 'luxury' of hiring cheap domestic helpers to help us run the day-to-day operations at home. Without it, I think the birth population would drop even more significantly than it already has since the latest emmigration wave.

You are looking at this through your own eyes - don't think the birth rate would change - the average person does not have a helper...

In case of China - families do have helpers over there - but they are not foreign helpers...

[GentleGeorge]

Yes, this would incredibly suck for Hong Kong, as the prices of domestic help may go up dramatically as that would mean more demand is needed in Mainland China to compete with - but just for argument's sake, why isn't China exploring that option?

I know many mainland families with helpers, they are universally Chinese nationals from poorer provinces (and surprisingly often "distant cousins").

They are more expensive than HK helpers but not by too much, maybe 1.5x the cost.

China has enough people willing to do this work, no need for them to import labour to do it.

[ndt]

[shri]

What is the urban v/s rural population ratio in China?

Are most old apartments where the young ones live with their parents large enough to accomodate a minimal family of 6 and a helper? Or are their impediments to public / container housing if you want to move out and get an apartment to raise a family - either on public or your own money?

[jimbo_jones]

What is the urban v/s rural population ratio in China?

Are most old apartments where the young ones live with their parents large enough to accomodate a minimal family of 6 and a helper? Or are their impediments to public / container housing if you want to move out and get an apartment to raise a family - either on public or your own money?

Need to start raising wages, so that all those fertile factory girls can go marry into a single income family, have a family and start sending their kids off to a good 'free' school'. Otherwise, both parents are doing 996 and get to see their kid on Sunday, or see their kid sleeping, or sending their kids back to the countryside with grandparents. And if they don't have the right papers, can't send their kids to good local schools in city...

Local government needs to start releasing more land at low/zero costs, so developer can build cheap apartments, that aren't tofu dreg. Local government needs to increase tax base, so they can give away free education and free services. Some local governments are pretty large loans, with no way of paying the interest... They can cut back on services, like hospitals, schools, fire, ambulance, road works, etc.

Income levels have to rise a lot, so people can pay taxes and enjoy free stuff.
High wages = pricey goods. Factories shut down or right shore off to India, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc.

Not every chinese can be a billionaire or millionaire factory owner.

Got to wait for collective prosperity to kick in and somehow to raise GDP per capita. So, what was the GDP per capita for Taiwan vs mainland China? What was the Taiwanese secret sauce?


etc, etc.

[D.YU]

I assume there are local helpers readily available in China. I honestly dont see mainland being a "competitor" for HK in terms of hiring foreign DH.

In other news, I recall there was a discussion regarding hiring Mainland Chinese helpers into HK....

[GentleGeorge]

I assume there are local helpers readily available in China. I honestly dont see mainland being a "competitor" for HK in terms of hiring foreign DH.

In other news, I recall there was a discussion regarding hiring Mainland Chinese helpers into HK....

No Chinese person here would do that... All I here is complains about how dishonest the mainland helpers are

[jimbo_jones]

I assume there are local helpers readily available in China. I honestly dont see mainland being a "competitor" for HK in terms of hiring foreign DH.

In other news, I recall there was a discussion regarding hiring Mainland Chinese helpers into HK....

If mainland helpers = mainland doctors and nurses, yes, the doctors have been approved. The nurses, the nursing council is going to help make the rules...

Also got "temporary" nursing home helpers from the mainland, a few thousand...
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/03/01/co...ocate-arrives/

ymmv

[aw451]

One of the roles of Filipina helpers is affordable English teacher. I don't think mainlanders could fill this role