Why has the number of community nannies in Hong Kong plunged?

Industry players say 41 per cent year-on-year drop partly due to fears over abuse allegations following earlier scandal that tarnished care sector

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Industry players attribute the drop in the number of community nannies partly to carers’ fears over abuse allegations following a scandal that tarnished the service. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 12:28pm, 12 Apr 2025Updated: 7:51pm, 12 Apr 2025

The number of community nannies under a Hong Kong childcare programme has fallen by more than 40 per cent over a year, with industry players attributing the drop partly to carers’ fears over abuse allegations following an earlier scandal that tarnished the service.

According to statistics submitted to the Legislative Council’s Finance Committee by the Labour and Welfare Bureau earlier this week, 1,043 nannies provided care for children at home or in community centres between April and December 2024 under the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project.

The figure was down by 41 per cent from the 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,” Jessie Yu Sau-chu, chief executive of the Hong Kong Single Parents Association, said.

“The supply of community nannies has already fallen short of demand, and what makes it worse is that there are fewer newcomers.”

The association runs the service in Sha Tin with 56 nannies, and offers them regular abuse prevention training.