The Lens: China schools’ recycling scheme raises questions about equity and sustainability

Some primary schools in China have implemented an interesting scheme where students are required to return empty milk cartons as a form of “homework”.

On the surface, the rationale behind this policy is to cultivate environmental awareness among students. The scheme encourages recycling and responsible waste management. Schools aim to instil these values at a young age by involving students in the process.

However, the broader implications of this approach merit further consideration.

Not all students may have the same access to milk products or the ability to return the required number of cartons consistently. This could create an uneven playing field and potentially disadvantage students from lower-income families.

Additionally, the schools’ approach of not considering individual circumstances could lead to unintended consequences, such as parents feeling compelled to “crazily drink milk” to fulfil the requirement. This highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to avoid putting too much stress on parents.

Another concern is the emergence of a secondary market for these empty milk cartons. Individuals are earning a small income by collecting and reselling them.

While this provides a source of supplementary income, it raises questions about the scheme’s effectiveness in promoting proper environmental awareness.

The success of such initiatives depends on striking a balance between encouraging positive behaviour and ensuring equitable access for all students.

It’s clear that a more nuanced approach, with alternate ways for students to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, is needed.

South Korea’s pilot project to recruit foreign domestic workers is off to a shaky start. Critics warn that the guaranteed minimum wages could make them unaffordable for ordinary households.

South Korea’s fertility rate plummeted to new depths last year as more women delayed childbirth or opted out of motherhood altogether, citing career disruptions and the soaring costs of raising children.

“To address the root cause of this issue, we should first improve working conditions and wages rather than relying on short-term solutions like hiring foreign carers,” said Bae Chan-min, a representative of the feminist activist group Womenlink.

In August, 100 professionally trained Filipinos arrived in Seoul for a pilot programme run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Labour Ministry. These workers will receive the same minimum wage as their Korean counterparts. The minimum wage in South Korea would allow Filipinos to earn more than 2 million Korean won (HK$11,615) monthly for a 52-hour work week.

This wage is higher than domestic workers typically earn in Hong Kong, where monthly salaries range from 500,000 to 800,000 Korean won. By contrast, local day care workers charge around 3 million Korean won per month.

Project helps Hong Kong’s migrant workers tell their stories

“Unless the high-cost issue of hiring foreign helpers is addressed, this could become an unrealistic option for middle-income families or those with lower incomes,” said Seoul City Mayor Oh Se-hoon.

Minister of Employment and Labour nominee Kim Moon-soo has opposed any exemption from minimum wage standards for foreign helpers. He argues that such measures would conflict with the constitution, international standards and domestic laws.

Lawmaker Na Kyung-won expressed concern that the high costs associated with Seoul’s pilot programme might render care services inaccessible for average citizens.

According to the Seoul government, one in three households applying for foreign domestic workers is from affluent districts of the city, leading to complaints that only wealthy residents will benefit.

Staff writers

Research and discuss

• Will this pilot scheme successfully address the shortage of care workers in South Korea?

• Should the minimum wage for domestic workers remain at the government’s proposed level?