For every foreign domestic helper (FDH) to be employed, the employer must have a household income of no less than $15,000 per month or assets of comparable amount to support the employment of an FDH for the whole contractual period.

An employer can recruit an FDH through an agency or directly via personal advertisements or referrals. The employer and the FDH must enter into a Standard Employment Contract as specified by the Director of Immigration and apply to the Immigration Department for an employment visa for the FDH. Please click here to obtain forms related to the employment of FDHs.

• It is a very common channel through which Hong Kong people employ foreign domestic helpers (FDHs). It is not a requirement by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government that employers must recruit FDHs through, or FDHs to obtain employment from, employment agencies (EAs). Yet, governments of individual FDH-sending countries may have such requirements. Please consult the relevant Consulate representatives in Hong Kong if there are any enquiries.
• According to the law, all EAs are required to apply for licences from the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) of the Labour Department before undertaking any job placement business.
• Before using the service of an EA, employers should check if the EA holds a valid licence first. Employers can use the search engine provided in the EAA Portal for identifying EA(s) with valid licence in Hong Kong. Please contact EAA for any enquiries.
• Apart from making sure the EA has a valid licence, employers are also encouraged to check the reputation of the EA, from websites, discussion groups, or word of mouth of friends and relatives.
• To protect employers’ interests, the “Code of Practice for Employment Agencies” stipulates that EAs should draw up written service agreements with employers, in which the details of services, including the service scope, itemised fees, refund arrangement, FDH replacement arrangement, etc., should be set out. EAs should also provide receipts for any payment received from employers. Should the EA failed to honour any of the agreed terms, or it is suspected of contravening the Trade Description Ordinance, employers should seek assistance from the Consumer Council or the Customs and Excise Department.
• Please visit the EAA Portal for more details.
• For false and misleading information relating to the services provided by EAs, please contact Customs and Excise Department at 2815 7711, or click here to obtain more information.

• The regulation on “Exemption from Migrant Worker Placement Fees” promulgated by the Indonesian Government was implemented on 2 August 2021.
• Starting from the implementation date, Indonesian nationals applying for the ten specified types of jobs overseas (including the post of domestic helper) will be subject to the regulation. The Indonesian Government has issued a cost structure to employment agencies in Indonesia.
• Please click here for details and its cost structure.

• General Information on Employment Matters

  Apart from the Employment Ordnance (EO) and the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance (ECO), employers should also observe the employment terms set out in the Standard Employment Contract (SEC) for employing FDHs. FDHs must also comply with the Immigration Ordinance and the conditions of stay stipulated on their visas including:

  • An FDH must reside and work at the residential address of his/her employer as specified in the SEC and perform domestic duties for the employer as specified in the “Schedule of Accommodation and Domestic Duties” attached to the SEC.; and
  • The FDH shall not take up, and shall not be required by the employer to take up, any other employment with any other person.

  A breach of any conditions of stay will render the FDH and/or any aider and abettor liable to prosecution. Please refer to “Illegal Employment of Foreign Domestic Helpers is Prohibited”.

• Getting Along with the Foreign Domestic Helpers
  
  • After the foreign domestic helper (FDH) report duty, employers should, based on FDHs’ individual abilities, allow them sufficient time to adapt to the new lifestyle and family environment. Employers are also recommended to have frequent communication with the FDHs to help them understand employers’ expectations and family needs. Employers can observe whether their FDHs have got used to the new lifestyle or are able to cope with difficulties encountered at work, and consider whether there is a need to adjust the work arrangement.
  • Coming from different countries, the cultural background and religious beliefs of FDHs may be different from those of Hong Kong people. Employers should respect the differences. Employers may approach employment agencies (EAs) for the background of their FDHs before signing the contract, and making suitable adjustments when devising work schedules and meal arrangements. For instance, employers can seek to know whether a Muslim FDH is willing to handle pork, whether a Buddhist FDH needs a strict vegetarian diet, etc.
  • Employers should provide sufficient sleep and rest time for the FDHs. Adequate sleep and rest can help enhance FDHs’ work efficiency. If an FDH is required to work at night, the employer should allow him/her sufficient time to take rest during the day.
  • Respecting the FDH’s privacy is important. Employers should provide the FDH with sufficient space for storing his/her personal belongings and employers should not inspect FDHs’ personal belongings, etc. Employers may also observe whether the daily routine would intervene in FDHs’ private living space. It is advised not to interfering with the FDH’s activities during his/her rest time such as social gatherings on rest days, etc.

The “Smart Renewal” service has been applicable to applications for visas for further employment of foreign domestic helpers submitted online, by post or drop-in box. Persons who submit their visa applications can, upon approval of their applications, pay online through the online payment webpage link provided in the notification of the application result or pay the visa fee with the “General Demand Note” (GDN) enclosed with the notification of the application result. Afterwards, they may download or print the “e-Visa” by themselves, without having to attend an office of the Immigration Department for going through the formalities.

If employers have problems or claims arising out of the employment contract or provisions under the Employment Ordinance which cannot be settled on their own, please approach the Labour Relations Division of the Labour Department(LRD) for assistance. The LRD assists employers and helpers to resolve their labour disputes through the provision of free consultation and conciliation service and facilitates the employer and helper to reach a mutually acceptable settlement. If no settlement is reached, LRD will refer the parties concerned, depending on the claim amount, to lodge a claim with the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board or the Labour Tribunal for adjudication.

• For matter on rights of employers and foreign domestic helpers (FDHs), and labour legislation, please contact the Labour Department at 2171 1771 (handled by “1823”).
• For matter on regulation of employment agencies, please contact the Employment Agencies Administration of the Labour Department at 2115 3667, or submit online form to the Administration.
• Should the employment agency failed to honour any of the agreed terms, or it is suspected of contravening the Trade Description Ordinance, please seek assistance from the Consumer Council (hotline: 2929 2222) or the Customs and Excise Department (hotline: 2815 7711).
• For matter on work injury, please contact the Employees’ Compensation Division of the Labour Department.
• Employers should not be involved in the financial affairs of FDHs. For any complaints against money lenders, please report to the Police.
• For enquiry about the visa and other employment matter, please contact the Immigration Department by calling the enquiry hotline at 2824 6111 or click here (Internal note: link to website) to obtain more information. Please click here to obtain forms related to the employment of foreign domestic helpers.