Are you eligible?
To qualify as an employer, you must be a resident of Hong Kong and be financially capable of supporting a helper. For every helper employed, an employer must be able to prove they have an income of over HK$ 15,000 per month or assets of comparable amount.
What are the costs?
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Monthly Wages |
The minimum domestic helper wage in Hong Kong is currently HK$ 4,010 per month. This new domestic helper wage is applicable to all employment contracts signed on or after September 2012. |
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Food Allowance |
If free food is not provided, a minimum food allowance of HK $920 per month is payable to the helper. This cost is in addition to the monthly salary paid to the helper. |
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Accommodation |
A helper is required to live in her employer¡¦s place of residence. You will need to provide your helper with suitable accommodation and reasonable privacy. Associated costs you need to consider: a) Can you allocate her an available room or will you have to partition off an area for her personal space ¡V how much will this cost? b) How much will you spend to furnish her room? It is required for employers to provide a bed, beddings and storage compartments for her personal belongings. |
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Insurance |
Employer Liability Insurance You will need to take out an insurance policy to cover your liabilities as an employer. Medical Insurance An employer is obligated to provide free medical treatment during the term of employment. It is recommended that you purchase medical insurance for your domestic helper to cover unforeseen medical, hospitalisation and repatriation expenses. Most bank and insurance companies offer comprehensive insurance products tailored for domestic helpers. Refer to our medical & insurance section for a list of such providers. |
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Agency Fee |
Agency fees range from approximately HK$2,000 to HK$8,000 dollars. As a bare minimum, agency fees should cover processing costs and fees for consular and work visa applications. Other inclusions may include a medical check up, insurance, one-way ticket to Hong Kong and a guarantee of service. The helpers nationality and employment situation will determine if an agency is required and the cost of service. |
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Medical Check-Up |
Under the Employment Contract you are required to acknowledge that the helper you hire has been medically examined and is fit for employment. It is recommended that your helper has a pre-hire medical examination. Note that the cost is payable by the employer. A standard medical check should include: 1.VDRL (blood test for syphilis) 2.HBsAg (hepatitis B) 3.HIV 4.Stool Routine 5.Urine Routine 6.Urine for Pregnancy 7.Chest X-Ray Costs start from HK$500 upwards. Refer to medical & insurance for a directory of providers. |
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Transport Costs |
In between employment contracts a helper is required to return to her place of origin while waiting for her new work visa to be approved. You may need to factor in an airfare to bring her back to Hong Kong. Note that at the end of the contract the helper is required to return to her country of origin. This is at the employers expense. This will involve providing a free flight plus food/travelling allowance of HK$ 100 per day. |
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Entitlements |
Helpers are entitled to paid annual leave, statutory holidays, one rest day a week and sickness allowance. For details on your employers rights and benefits please refer to A Concise Guide to the Employment Ordinance |
Job Description
What role do you want a helper to play in your household?
A general list of daily activities will revolve around:
- Cooking
- Cleaning
- Laundry
- Grocery Shopping
- Infant Care
- Child Care
- Pet Care
- Car Cleaning
Consider how you want these tasks to be handled.
Do you want your helper to:
a) assist you in various duties
b) completely take over all domestic chores
c) hire someone who is great at cleaning and cooking
d) have extensive experience with infants so that she can focus on caring for your baby?
The list is endless and combinations will be as unique as your family. Make the selection process a smoother one by taking the time to establish the ideal role of your helper. Examples of Helper Guidelines are available for our online members.
Additional Qualifications
Aside from deciding what skills you want in a helper, it might also be worth considering if they have any qualifications. This could relate to completing first aid courses, cooking courses, speaking a certain language or holding midwifery or educational qualifications that will help them when looking after your children.
Soft Skills
It is also important to consider a helper¡¦s personality or disposition. They will be living with you and you need to ensure that their personality is compatible with your family and daily routine. During the interview process, try to evaluate their common sense and consider if they have a positive and flexible attitude.
Some times these attributes can be more important than a person¡¦s ability to vacuum the floors well and to cook a particular dish. If you find a helper who is happy to receive instructions, eager to learn and eager to work, it should be easy for her to learn on the job and eventually complete tasks to your standard.
Where do you find candidates?
1. Referrals
During your next catch up with friends or acquaintances, make it a point to mention your search for a helper. With Hong Kong being a transient place, there are always families preparing to relocate, leaving behind a helper who is looking for a new job.
If a helper has performed her duties well, her employer will usually provide a great recommendation and even make it their mission to find her a fantastic new family to work for. Such referrals can open the door to finding a good pool of candidates for you to interview. Using this approach to source helpers is definitely a great starting point but keep in mind that each family is unique so what works for one family may not work well for another.
2. Online Search Sites
An online search site is a great way to source candidates when it is professional, user-friendly, and contains up to date and easy to read profiles on contactable helpers. Using an online search site removes the pressures of trawling through piles of illegible ¡¥bio data¡¦ at an agency office and gives you the benefit of sorting through candidates specific to your requirements in the comfort of your own home and at a time that suits you.
myhelper.com.hk is an online search site that is challenging the status quo. We provide a professional platform for you to find a helper. Click here to start searching.
3. Job Posts
Have a look around your local supermarket to see if there are any notice boards for helpers or employers to post their availability.
Posting a job add will help you to attract the skills that you need, with the added benefit of helpers contacting you direct to arrange an interview. This approach is also a good way to source helpers in your local area, potentially making the transition process a lot easier if they know the best places to shop and entertain the kids. Helpers may also have an established network that allows them to do their jobs more efficiently.
myhelper is dedicated to providing a comprehensive approach to connecting families with helpers. A complimentary service to our online membership, we circulate your job requirement to our network of helpers. You simply submit your job brief and we will sms the information to helper contacts on our database.
There¡¦s nothing more powerful than word of mouth. Click Post a Job to find out more.
4. Agency Services
The need to engage an agency will depend on the nationality and employment situation of your helper.
Engaging an agency allows you to outsource the entire hiring process. A competent agency should save you considerable time by providing immediate access to an extensive pool of helpers and pre-screening of candidates. Agencies should also provide transparent and professional information on the interview and recruitment process.
Making an Offer
Helpers move quick!
It is important to recognize, that when their contract is finished or terminated, helpers have a very limited time to remain in Hong Kong.
As it is easier to secure a job by attending face-to-face interviews and they avoid repaying exorbitant agency fees in their own country, helpers are incentivised to secure employment before they leave Hong Kong.
With this in mind, if you find a helper that you like, tell them! Don¡¦t miss the opportunity to employ her.
Good candidates will find jobs very fast so if you are impressed, let her know and express your interest in offering her a position.
Of course, you should not expect her to accept the offer straight away. Let her take some time to consider your job offer. This will also give you the opportunity to check her references and perhaps ask her to come to your home for a trial run and see how she interacts with members of your household.
If she rejects your offer, remain calm. Continue with your search and find comfort in knowing that by exercising her right to choose, you are one step closer to finding a helper who is motivated and actually wants to work for you.
What are the application procedures?
Employment Contract (7 days)
An employment contract provided by the immigration department will need to be completed and signed by both the employer and helper. This document will then need to be verified by the relevant consulate. This is commonly known as ¡¥notarisation¡¦. ?
Working Visa Application (6-8 weeks)
The employer and helper will need to fill out respective forms relating to sponsorship and application for a work visa. Both parties will also need to provide the supporting documents required for verification.
For further details on application procedures refer to:
Guidebook for the Employment of Domestic Helpers from Abroad
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