Your guide to hiring a helper in Hong Kong

Many expats and locals in Hong Kong, particularly those with children, hire a domestic helper. If you are looking to find an extra pair of helping hands to ease your workload at home, keep reading to find out everything you need to know to get started.

Local or foreign?

You can choose between a local or foreign domestic helper. Most foreign ones are from Indonesia or the Philippines. They speak fairly good English and can only be legally employed on a two-year contract. It must be a full-time and live-in arrangement. For local domestic helpers, you can hire them whenever you need them. They can work either part-time or full-time. Unfortunately, many don’t speak English well. Some don’t speak it at all.

Who can hire a domestic helper?

To hire a foreign domestic worker, you must hold a Hong Kong identity card and earn a total income of over $15,000 per month.

How much will a domestic helper cost me?

The Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) for a full-time live-in helper (at time of writing) is $4,630 per month, but many expats pay above this depending on years of duty and level of experience. Employers must also provide food, or a food allowance of no less than $1,121 per month; suitable accommodation with access to cooking and bathroom facilities; insurance and medical care; pay all hiring-related costs; and airfares for annual home leave.

How do I find a domestic helper?

It is best to do so by word of mouth. This allows you to chat to the people who have hired the helper before, or who know their personally, to gauge what they are like.

You can also hire local domestic helpers through the Smart Living Government Program by posting your vacancy or searching their site for suitable candidates. Other reputable employment agencies – like Helper Place, Arrow Employment Services, Fair Employment Agency and Royal Maids – can also assist with hiring domestic helpers. However, several agencies have been blacklisted for unethical methods and overcharging the helpers – many helpers end up in heavy debt to these companies before they have even starting working in this new country.

Nowadays, there are even apps for hiring helpers. MamaHelpers is a free app launched by two local postgraduate students, to match foreign domestic helpers and drivers with employers. It allows employers to review, connect and hire a helper directly. For those who wish to save the time spent filtering results themselves, the app is also partnered with ethical agencies determined by the company to be trustworthy and socially responsible. Employers only pay upon the successful signing of a contract.

What are some useful terms?

Here are some terms you will likely come across while researching domestic helpers. We’ve decoded it for you.

• “Finished contract”: Helper has completed her two year contract and can start as soon as she receives her new visa
• “Terminated for relocation/financial reasons or death of employer”: Helper has been dismissed within her contract because of above reasons, but immigration will handle these reasons as a finished contract
• “Terminated for other reasons or break contract”: Helper has been dismissed or has quit before the end of her contract, and will need to leave Hong Kong before starting a new contract
• “First timer or overseas hire”: Helper is not currently in Hong Kong, and has never worked in Hong Kong or abroad at all

What are the government requirements and mandatory paperwork?

 Regardless of how you find a helper, you must enter into a binding Standard Employment Contract (ID 407) and apply for an employment visa for your helper at the Immigration Department. The SEC states that your helper must work and live at the address on the contract. The Labour Department also requires employers to obtain an Employee Compensation Insurance for helpers. The insurance should cover health insurance, injuries at work, personal accident insurance and others.

How to prepare for an interview?

Interviewing a domestic helper may seem daunting as you will probably feel under pressure to get the right fit for your needs and family dynamics. Just view the interview as a general conversation about who they are and what work experience they have had and remember that the helper will likely be as nervous as you are! Don’t feel you have to hire on the spot or after one meeting and if possible, get references from a previous employer. To help you get started, here are some questions that can allow you to get to know the helper better:

• Tell me a bit about yourself.
• How long have you been in Hong Kong?
• How long have you been in your current job and why are you leaving?
• Tell me about your past employment.
• What is your current salary?
• What is your current daily schedule?
• Do you like cooking and what kind of meals do you cook?
• Do you have experience with a newborn baby/toddler/primary age children/teenager?
• What kind of things do you do to keep children occupied?
• Do you have any first aid training and what would you do in an emergency?

What should I be aware of?

• Employers must give their helpers a full day of rest every week
• Helpers are entitled to 12 statutory holidays as well as annual leave (seven days in their first two years of contract). It is up to you whether you also wish to give your helper extra time off such as all general public holidays or an extended holiday
• A special application must be made should you need your helper to take up driving duties, for which they also need a valid Hong Kong driving licence
• It is illegal to employ a full-time foreign domestic helper, who doesn’t live in your home

Just moved to Hong Kong? Read our complete arrivals’ guide for more tips on settling in!