GUANGZHOU: Having sacked three nannies in the past six months, Tang Haiyang, 30, is hoping the next one will be suitably qualified to look after his five-month-old daughter.

"I've sacked three in just half a year, I really wonder whether I can find a qualified one to look after my daughter," Tang said. He is a sales manager for a local food firm.

"The nanny problem has really frustrated me," he said.

Tang said the previous nannies showed they were not qualified or had no sense of responsibility.

"I've approached several of the city's top housekeeping agencies in the past two weeks, but to no avail," he said.

Many people in Guangzhou are in the same predicament - they have had a hard time finding a satisfactory nanny or housekeeper in this South China city.

"On one hand, Guangzhou is facing a serious shortage of nannies or housekeepers; and on the other, most are not qualified due to a lack of training programs," Wang Ping, secretary of Guangdong Household Management Association, said.

Guangzhou has a shortage of about 40,000 nannies and housekeepers and the problem is expected to continue in the coming months, Wang said.

"Some top agencies offer a few training courses, but many others do not. At least 60 percent of nannies and housekeepers in Guangzhou have received no training," he said.

Guangzhou has about 600 housekeeping agencies and more than 400,000 women are employed in the industry.

Tian Xin, general manager of Guangzhou Zhengxianghe Housekeeping Service Co, said the shortage problem will continue because last year saw a boom in marriages, with 70,000 couples getting married, and this year will see a baby boom.

She said several housekeeping agencies, including hers, have been encouraging more women to become nannies by offering training courses and improving their working conditions.

(China Daily 07/24/2007 page5)