Carers database roll out to support families at risk

Low-income carers with disabilities will benefit first

A database on carers will be rolled out allowing the government to identify families at risk at an earlier stage, said Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun on 5 July.

Under the database, the government will monitor health status of carers and ready to reach out providing necessary service.

Beneficiaries of the “Scheme on Living Allowance for Low-income Carers of Persons with Disabilities” will be the first to benefit from the new database.

"Under our new pilot scheme, a message would be given from the Hospital Authority to the Social Welfare Department signaling that the said family is now at risk, so that we can reach out to it to provide necessary respite service or home service to make sure those being taken care of (are) receiving proper care," Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun said.

Meanwhile, the official emphasised that the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme is designed to ensure that local workers are given priority for employment.

The government requires employers to prove they are unable to recruit enough local workers before applications for the importation of labour is considered, Sun said.