FDH Hiring FAQs — Hong Kong Helper Costs, Contracts & Rules

Any bona fide Hong Kong resident can employ a domestic helper, provided they have a monthly household income of at least HK$15,000 per helper, can provide suitable live-in accommodation with reasonable privacy, and have no adverse record in employing domestic helpers. The employer must pay at least the current Minimum Allowable Wage of HK$5,100 per month.

Yes, if at all possible — especially if children are involved. Use the first one to two weeks to train, observe, and build trust. Show your routines, demonstrate how you want things done, and assess how the helper handles your children before leaving them alone together.

An OEC is an exit permit issued by the Philippines' Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), required every time a Filipino worker leaves the Philippines for overseas employment — including returning to Hong Kong after home leave. Without a valid OEC, your helper cannot legally board their flight back to you.

A "terminated" helper had their contract ended lawfully — either at the two-year expiry or mid-term with proper notice under the Standard Employment Contract (ID407). A "break-contract" candidate is one whose contract ended early without the required notice. Both mid-term terminations and break contracts are subject to Hong Kong's two-week rule: the helper must leave or secure a new employer within two weeks of the contract ending.

Yes. There is no legal limit on the number of domestic helpers an employer can hire in Hong Kong. Each helper must have a separate Standard Employment Contract, her own suitable accommodation, and the Foreign Domestic Helper Levy applies to each helper individually. IMMD will assess each visa application on its own merits.

Focus on previous work experience, the types of household duties she has performed, specific skills relevant to your household (childcare, eldercare, cooking), and how she handled difficult situations. Always ask for references from previous employers and follow up on them. For local transfer candidates, ask why the previous contract ended.

The Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) for domestic helpers in Hong Kong is HK$5,100 per month for contracts signed on or after 30 September 2025. Paying less is a criminal offence. The MAW is reviewed annually by the government.

The employer must pay for the helper's return airfare to their place of origin at the end of every contract — whether it runs to completion, is terminated early, or involves home leave between contracts. Book an actual ticket rather than handing over cash wherever possible.

Yes — the Standard Employment Contract requires you to either provide free food in kind every day, or pay a food allowance of HK$1,236 per month (rate as of September 2025). You must choose one option and state it in the contract; doing neither is not permitted. If paying the allowance, your total minimum monthly cash obligation is HK$6,336 (HK$5,100 MAW + HK$1,236 food allowance).

Home leave is a mandatory requirement under the Standard Employment Contract for foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong to return to their home country for at least 7 days at the end of each 2-year contract. The employer is responsible for the cost of travel. It can be taken immediately at contract end or deferred for up to one year.

Yes, helpers are entitled to at least one rest day per week (minimum four per month), plus 17 statutory public holidays per year. Neither can be replaced by cash — an actual day off (or a substitute day) is always required. If a helper works on a rest day, a substitute rest day must be given within 30 days. If a helper works on a statutory holiday, an alternative day off must be given within 60 days.

FDHs are entitled to paid annual leave after completing 12 months of service with the same employer. The entitlement starts at 7 days per year and increases progressively to a maximum of 14 days, based on years of service. If the contract is terminated, the employer must pay out any untaken leave.

Notify the Immigration Department (IMMD) in writing within 7 days of contract termination — this is legally required. You may also report to the Police and the helper's home country consulate. Do not sell or dispose of any belongings left behind.

No — you have no legal obligation to repay any loan your helper took out. Unless you explicitly signed as guarantor, the debt is entirely hers. If debt collectors contact you or send letters to your address, report them to the Companies Registry; if there is any physical threat, call the Police immediately.

Salary cannot be reduced below the Minimum Allowable Wage (HK$5,100/month) — doing so is a criminal offence even if both parties agree. Duties must stay strictly domestic; assigning non-domestic work is illegal. A change of residential address is permitted but must be formally reported to the Immigration Department.

Domestic helpers in Hong Kong are entitled to all 17 statutory holidays per year, and the day off is mandatory from the very first day of employment. However, the employer is only required to pay for statutory holidays once the helper has been continuously employed for at least 3 months. During the first 3 months, the day off is still compulsory — only the payment for that day may be withheld.

Yes. Under Clause 9 of the Standard Employment Contract, you must provide free medical treatment to your helper for the entire duration of employment — including non-work-related illness. This goes beyond what Employees' Compensation Insurance covers, so budget for out-of-pocket medical costs. The most common solution is to buy comprehensive insurance that includes both medical and the mandatory Employees' Compensation Insurance.

No. Foreign domestic helpers are explicitly excluded from acquiring the right of abode in Hong Kong, regardless of how long they have worked here. This exclusion is stated in the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115, Schedule 1, paragraph 2) and was upheld by the Court of Final Appeal in 2013. The standard 7-year ordinary residence rule does not apply to the domestic helper visa category.

Either party may end a domestic helper contract early by giving one month's written notice, or paying one month's wages in lieu. Both employer and helper must notify the Immigration Department within 7 days using Form ID407E. The employer must also settle all outstanding wages, untaken annual leave, and the helper's return airfare.

When terminating an FDH contract, the employer owes: outstanding wages, wages in lieu of notice (if applicable), pro-rata annual leave pay, return airfare, and a HK$100/day travel allowance. Severance Payment applies after 2 years of service if dismissed for redundancy; Long Service Payment applies after 5 years for non-misconduct dismissals.

Severance Pay applies after 24+ months of service if the helper is dismissed or not renewed due to redundancy. Long Service Payment applies after 5+ years if the contract ends for reasons other than redundancy or serious misconduct. Both are calculated at 2/3 of the last monthly salary per year of service, capped at HK$390,000.

Yes — like any employee, your helper can terminate the contract by giving one month's notice or paying one month's wages in lieu. After termination, the two-week rule applies: she must leave Hong Kong or secure a new employer within 14 days.

Long service payment (LSP) is required after 5 continuous years of service when a helper is dismissed without misconduct, reaches age 65, or resigns due to certified ill-health. It is calculated at two-thirds of last month's wages per year, with monthly wages capped at HK$22,500.

Yes. FDHs are legally required to live in the employer's home. Live-out arrangements — where the helper stays in their own accommodation — have not been permitted since April 2003. Employers must specify the helper's accommodation details in the Standard Employment Contract, and the Immigration Department must be notified of any address change.

The Standard Employment Contract (ID407) requires employers to provide free food or a food allowance of at least HK$1,236/month, but does not specify what food. Filipino and Indonesian helpers often have dietary preferences that differ from Hong Kong households. Clear communication about meals from day one prevents misunderstanding and leads to a smoother working arrangement.

If you move to a new residential address, you must notify the Immigration Department using Form ID407G (Revised Schedule of Accommodation and Domestic Duties). If you are moving into public housing, you also need written consent from the Housing Authority or Hong Kong Housing Society confirming the helper may reside there.

Write your rules down before the helper arrives — covering working hours, phone usage, food, cleaning standards, and rest day arrangements. Go through them together on day one, explain the reasoning, and give the helper a copy. Clear expectations prevent most conflicts.

Trust builds gradually through clear communication, consistent expectations, and mutual respect. Start with a petty cash system for transparency, be present during the first weeks, and give feedback daily. Avoid testing traps — just observe and communicate openly.

A change in attitude after renewal is a relationship management issue, not a legal one. The Employment Ordinance does not prescribe how such situations must be handled. Typical options include a private conversation to understand the cause, documenting specific incidents, clarifying expectations, or reviewing whether the arrangement still suits both parties.

Yes, generally. Before a new contract begins, a helper must return home for at least 7 days — and the employer pays the return airfare. If both parties agree and the Immigration Department approves, home leave can be deferred by up to one year, letting the helper stay in Hong Kong and take leave later.