Note for Employers

Documents required for hiring a helper

Copy of employer’s Hong Kong Identity Card

Copy of employer’s financial certificate

A tax assessment form issued by the Inland Revenue Department with income for this year or the previous year. The annual household income is HK$180,000 or above, or the salary record of automatic bank transfer in the last 3 months is a monthly income of HK$15,000 or above. Bank information for the last 6 months can also be provided. Proof of time or demand deposit (HK$360,000 or above), or a letter of asset certification issued by the bank with a balance of HK$360,000 or above in the last 6 months

If you need to apply based on your spouse’s overall income, you need to provide a copy of your marriage certificate and a copy of your spouse’s ID card

Copy of proof of residence in the last 3 months (water bill, electricity bill, gas bill, rates or landline phone bill)

If the employer cannot provide proof of residence for himself, he can also submit proof of residence for his spouse or children, but he must also submit documents proving the relationship, such as birth certificate or marriage certificate and a copy of his ID card.

Public housing tenants need to provide a copy of their housing permit and submit a room plan for the helper.

Tenants can provide the tenancy agreement together with the landlord to the Housing Department to apply for a certificate of residence.

The employer must provide the names, ID numbers, birth years, and relationships with the employer of all family members living with the employer.

Minimum wages for domestic workers:

The Hong Kong SAR government announced the minimum wage for 2023 of $4,870. If no meals are provided to helpers, the negotiated meal allowance shall not be less than HK$1,23 per month.

Rest days for helpers:

There are no mandatory rest days on Sundays, but employers should provide domestic helpers with four rest days per month and at least one rest day per week.

Salary calculation visa effective date starts

Long-term service fee:

If a domestic helper has been employed for five years or more, he or she will be entitled to long service payment.

Calculation method; monthly salary specified in the contract × 2/3 × length of service.

*If the employer requests the employee in writing to renew the contract or re-engage with a new contract no less than 7 days before the expiry of the contract, and the employee unreasonably refuses the request, the employee is not entitled to long service payment.

The 14 statutory holidays for 2024 are:

The first day of January January 1
The second day of Lunar New Year February 10
The third day of Lunar New Year February 12
The fourth day of Lunar New Year February 13
Ching Ming Festival April 4
Labour Day May 1
The Birthday of the Buddha May 15
Tuen Ng Festival June 10
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day July 1
The day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival September 18
National Day October 1
Chung Yeung Festival October 11
Chinese Winter Solstice Festival or Christmas Day (at the option of the employer) December 22 or December 25
The first weekday after Christmas Day December 26

An employee having been employed under a continuous contract for not less than 3 months is entitled to the holiday pay which is equivalent to the daily average wages earned by the employee

For more information on hiring helpers, customers can refer to the following websites:

For details on labor laws, please refer to the Labor Department’s website:

http://www.labour.gov.hk/en/faq/content.htm

A Practical Guide to Hiring Foreign Domestic Helpers – Information for Foreign Domestic Helpers and Their Employers:

http://www.labour.gov.hk/tc/public/pdf/wcp/FDHguide.pdf (September 2013)

Hiring Domestic Helpers from Foreign Countries (Simple Guide) [ID(C)989] :

http://www.immd.gov.hk/tc/forms/forms/id-e-989.html

Guidelines for Hiring Domestic Helpers from Foreign Countries [ID(C)969] :

http://www.immd.gov.hk/tc/forms/forms/id-e-969.html