Domestic Help in Hong Kong

Hiring domestic help in Hong Kong

One of the luxuries of living in Hong Kong is the ability to hire a low-cost, full-time domestic help. Life in Hong Kong is fast-paced and busy, and expats often decide to hire a domestic worker to help with household chores such as cleaning, doing the laundry, cooking for the family, taking care of the kids and running errands. In some families, domestic helpers also help with activities such as gardening, cleaning the car and caring for the pets. However, hiring a helper also comes with rules and labour laws that must be followed.

There are around 390,000 foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong. About half are from the Philippines, with the other half mostly being Indonesian. A small minority hail from countries such as Thailand, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Expats who hire a full-time foreign domestic helper should know that the individual will be officially recognised as an overseas domestic worker and not a Hong Kong permanent resident. Their work visa is totally dependent on their current employment contract, which means that, when hiring a helper, the employer has to sponsor their helper’s work visa.

Expats who are looking to hire a helper in Hong Kong must have a monthly household income of more than HKD 15,000 monthly. If they do meet this requirement, they must show that they have at least HKD 180,000 in total assets. 

The employer pays or reimburses visa fees and costs incurred in meeting visa requirements. This includes the cost of applications, medical examinations, insurance, and other miscellaneous administrative fees. The employer must also pay for or reimburse the helper's transport from their home country to Hong Kong.

Labour laws in Hong Kong

There are several regulations that expats considering hiring a domestic helper in Hong Kong should be aware of.

• The Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) for domestic helpers is set by the government. Employers who pay less than the MAW may be subject to fines or imprisonment.
• Foreign domestic helpers can only be employed full-time and are required to live at their employer’s place of residence. They must be provided with suitable accommodation that allows them reasonable privacy.
• Employers are required to provide three meals a day to their helpers, though a food allowance can be offered as an alternative. The government also sets the minimum food allowance.
• Helpers must be given at least one day off a week and are also entitled to all statutory holidays.
• Initially, helpers are entitled to at least seven days of annual leave per 12-month period. For each consecutive year of service to a particular employer, leave must be increased by one day, up to a maximum of 14 annual leave days a year (this would be after nine years of service).
• Employers also have to provide their helpers with a ticket from their country of origin to Hong Kong and a return flight on the expiry or termination of the employment contract.
• The employment contract must be signed for no less than two years.
• The employer is responsible for their helper’s health expenses. It is therefore recommended that you subscribe to health insurance (several providers have special packages for domestic helpers).

Useful links

• The Hong Kong Labour Department gives information about foreign domestic worker contracts

Foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong

As long as they are treated well by their employers, many foreign domestic helpers are happy to live in Hong Kong. They are decently paid and work in a stable environment, and the size of the Filipino and Indonesian communities in Hong Kong usually helps with homesickness.

A few organisations in Hong Kong provide classes specifically for domestic helpers. Employers sometimes decide to send their helpers to training classes when they want them to improve their cooking or receive proper childcare or first aid training. 

The relationship between employer and helper

It is essential that employers take time to liaise with their domestic helpers to ensure that they have a clear idea of their duties and when they are to be performed. Employers should also encourage the helper to speak up about any problems they may encounter, which can resolve them quickly and efficiently.