Eligibility Criteria
Employers who wish to employ a domestic helper from abroad (Helper) have to satisfy the following criteria:
- the employer is financially capable of employing a Helper. In general, for every Helper to be employed, the employer must have a household income of no less than HK$15,000 per month or asset of comparable amount to support the employment of a Helper for the whole contractual period;
- the Helper and the employer shall enter into a standard Employment Contract (ID 407);
- the Helper shall only perform domestic duties for the employer as specified in the standard Employment Contract (ID 407);
- the Helper shall not take up any employment with any other person during his/her stay in Hong Kong;
- the employer will pay the Helper a salary that is no less than the minimum allowable wage as announced by the HKSAR Government. If no food is provided to the Helper, the agreed amount of food allowance should not be less than HK$1,121 per month;
- the Helper shall work and reside in the contractual address only;
- the employer shall provide the Helper with suitable accommodation and with reasonable privacy;
- the bona fides of the employer and the Helper are not in doubt;
- there is no known record to the detriment of the employer and the Helper; and;
- the employer is a bona fide Hong Kong resident.
Required documents
The following application forms and documents are required for a new Helper from abroad:
- Completed application forms (ID 988A and ID 988B);
- An original copy of the standard Employment Contract (ID 407), which should have been notarised by the appropriate consulate in the HKSAR if so required by the relevant consulate. Other 3 copies of the contract are for the retention of the employer, the Helper and the consulate concerned (if applicable) respectively;
- A copy of the employer's Hong Kong identity card. If the employer is not a Hong Kong permanent resident, a person with right to land or on unconditional stay, please make a copy of the travel document showing the employer's personal particulars and the latest Hong Kong Immigration stamp;
- Financial proof of the employer, such as the latest notice of assessment and demand for tax issued by the Inland Revenue Department; bank passbook/statements showing auto-payment of the monthly salary for the last 3 months; or salary statements/slips for the last 6 months;
- Proof of the employer's residential address as reported in the standard Employment Contract (ID 407), such as the latest demand for rates note or water/telephone/electricity etc. utility bills within the last 3 months;
- A testimonial of the Helper showing he/she has at least 2-year working experience as a domestic helper;
- Copies of the Helper's travel document and his/her Hong Kong identity card (if any).
Arrangement of Accommodation
- You should agree with your helper whether food will be provided during employment. If it is provided, it must be free of charge.
- If no food is provided, a food allowance of the amount specified in the employment contract should be given to the helper each month.
- For standard employment contracts signed on or after 28 September 2018, the applicable food allowance is not less than HK$1,121 per month.
Termination of The Contract
Either party may terminate the contract by giving not less than one month's notice in writing or by paying one month's wages to the other party.
For employer:
- You should clear all outstanding wages and other sums due to your helper, preferably by payment through the bank, and obtain a receipt for all payments.
- You are required to notify the Foreign Domestic Helpers Section of the Immigration Department in writing of the termination within seven days of the date of termination. It is not necessary to inform the Labour Department.
For helper:
- You should settle all accounts with your employer and ensure that all sums are paid to you before you sign any receipt.
- You are required to notify the Foreign Domestic Helpers Section of the Immigration Department in writing of the termination within seven days of the date of termination. It is not necessary to inform the Labour Department.
