Thirty-two female university graduates are undergoing a month-long training course to become housemaids for foreign families.

All of them, aged 21-25, are English majors who have studied for three years in Hechi University in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which neighbours Guangdong Province.

The students have high expectations for their new job, which is scheduled to start later this week.

"By serving foreign families we can practise oral English and learn their lifestyles. The work environment is attractive," said one of the trainees, Mo Hui.

Most of the women are from poor rural areas and are used to doing housework, but the month-long course given by a Filipino expert on domestic service aims to increase their confidence.

The newly-acquired skills include preparing western food, taking care of babies, feeding pets, making cocktails and taking care of the elderly. They have also taken courses on general knowledge about foreign countries, etiquette and customs.

The salary is attractive: They will earn 1,800 yuan (US$225) a month for the first two months of probation and 2,000 yuan (US$250) afterwards. One year later, their salaries could be raised to 3,000 yuan (US$375) or 4,000 yuan (US$500), almost the same as a while-collar worker, according to Shenzhen Jujiale Home Service Chain Management Co.

"The income is very good for a college graduate. In Nanning, the capital city of Guangxi, the monthly salary would be less than 1,000 yuan (US$125)," said Mo Juzhen.

Chen Jian, assistant to the general manager of Jujiale, said demand for quality housekeepers is increasing.

Government figures show that there are about 10,000 foreign families in Shenzhen. Some high-income Chinese families are also looking for qualified tutors to educate their children. "Our well-trained and well educated domestic helpers target these groups," Chen told China Daily.

Chen said the graduates were chosen from more than 200 applicants. "We told them repeatedly the hardships of the job. They are optimistic, confident and we have given them sufficient psychological training."

The company has signed a contract with Hechi University, which will supply dozens of English major graduates to the company each year, she added.

China's university enrolment expansion allows more students to go to university, but millions of graduates face increasing difficulties in finding a good job.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)