paid work during the school term
bring home higher grades, which is
food for thought.
Although you might not see a lot of
Hong Kong youths working at your
local Wellcome, the good news is that
many of Hong Kong’s young people
work while they study. Hong Kong
teens are working in hospitality,
particularly in areas like Lantau,
Discovery Bay and Stanley. They
also find work tutoring, helping out at
small businesses, in customer service
roles and at retail outlets. Language
can be a barrier for expat kids, but
don’t let that deter them, as it might
be a great opportunity for them to
learn some language skills.
When it comes to pay rates, here
in Hong Kong, the minimum wage
was set at $32.50 an hour from 1
May 2015, (pending approval of
the Legislative Council at the time
of printing this month’s issue). For
more information and to know your
teen’s rights, head to the Hong Kong
Government websites, which are
always full of useful information.
Job creation
If your teenager is looking for a
job while
they study,
there are some
great options away
from retail and the ‘usual
suspects’. One place where you’ll
catch students working is Faust, a
leading institution for nurturing
creative talent through drama.
The company has been bringing
the magic of theatre to young
people in Hong Kong for 16 years.
Their workshops and afterschool
programmes are led by student
leaders who are as young as 14.
Student leaders are enthusiasts in the
creative arts, with backgrounds in
dance, theatre and singing. Many of
them are also studying drama at high
school or at university, and are active
in the local live theatre scene.
For kids who have a passion point,
be it theatre, sports, crafts, cooking
or anything in particular, it’s always
an option to proactively approach
businesses and organisations in your
community. They very well might
need a young and enthusiastic student
a few hours
or days a
week.
For those who
aren’t sure where to
start, sites like
have sections for part-time positions
and some job posts are even marked
‘students welcome’.
Entrepreneurial kids could
turn their hands to dog walking
or babysitting services. Some may
think these tasks are taken care of by
helpers, but there are lots of families
in Hong Kong who don’t employ
full-time helpers, and could use some
extra help. Hong Kong is a small
town and reliable sitters are needed.
Whatever you decide, there are
lots of positive reasons why working
part-time as a student is a worthy
choice for many young people. As
parents, we need to look out for
our working kids, to make sure
they aren’t too stretched, to ensure
they’re being treated well at work,
and that they are working in a safe
environment.
May 2015
69
