The Ministry of Labor and Social Security has issued national job criteria for housekeepers, including three levels of classifications: elementary, secondary and senior.

According to the criteria, a senior-level housekeeper must know two varieties of social dances, net-surfing and be able to do financing for employers. The Chinese uniform qualification certificates for housekeepers are granted after applicants receive trainings and take exams.

Foreign employers often hold dances, so requiring housekeepers to learn two varieties of social dances is necessary, said an industry analyst. They also need to assist employers in downloading files, receiving emails and arranging daily living costs in a reasonable way, the analyst pointed out.

Besides those fashionable skills, a senior-level housekeeper is also required to master many cooking techniques.

Housekeeping agencies think it is difficult to find qualified candidates. Most housekeepers cannot meet the strict requirements, unless they are university graduates from housekeeping or hotel foremen, said Gao Yunmei, spokeswoman with the Shanghai Boni Housekeeping Service Co Ltd, adding that housekeepers with such high-level qualifications will frequently change jobs.

(Shanghai Daily May 26, 2005)