High demand for domestic helpers ahead of Lunar New Year spring cleaning

As the Lunar New Year approaches, local domestic helpers are in high demand for spring cleaning, with hiring platforms anticipating hourly wages of up to HK$170.

This traditional custom sees many Hongkongers opting to hire help to "wash away the dirtiness at home" on the 28th day of the lunar month.

Charlotte Cheung Ying-ying, secretary general of the Home Services Employees Association, said that some association members had received reservations as early as December, with some January schedules fully booked -- reflecting a demand similar to last year.

A prior poll by the association indicated that employers were willing to pay between HK$150 and HK$170 per hour, with rates on Hong Kong Island being even higher.

However, Cheung raised concerns about competition as mainland home cleaning firms are offering two to three workers for newly renovated flats at about half the price of local helpers. This trend could intensify competition within the industry.

The Employees Retraining Board’s free referral platform, Smart Living, typically sees around 2,500 job vacancies for domestic helpers during the Lunar New Year, primarily for spring cleaning.

The recommended hourly rate is around HK$150, increasing to HK$170 as the holiday approaches. In contrast, Eric Wong, co-founder of the hiring platform WorkKing, suggested that demand for household cleaning might not be as high this year.

He said that many families return to their hometowns, and about 70 percent of households with children already employ foreign domestic helpers. Also, citizens may choose to tidy their homes themselves amid the sluggish economic environment.

(Eunice Lam)