Domestic Helper Salary: Key Considerations Before Hiring And Monthly Costs

Hiring a domestic helper to alleviate the burden of housework is a common practice in Hong Kong. But how much does it cost to hire a domestic helper in Hong Kong? Here, we have the answer for minimum wages, average salaries, and other related expenses. So you get some insights for hiring a domestic helper from this blog post!

Table of contents: Hiring a Domestic Helper in Hong Kong

• How much do you need to pay to hire a domestic helper in 2024?
• When should the salary and food allowance for the domestic helper be paid?
• What should you prepare when you first hire a domestic helper?
• Frequently Asked Questions: Hiring a Domestic Helper in Hong Kong
• Related Articles

How much do you need to pay to hire a domestic helper in 2024?

To help with your question, let’s break down the expenses into 2 main categories: monthly expenses and first-time hiring fees.

For monthly expenses, you will need to consider the helper’s monthly salary, food expenses, and accommodation fees. On the other hand, first-time hiring expenses only include the fees that you will incur during the hiring process.

Domestic Helper Monthly Expenses Overview

Monthly Expenses	Approximate Cost
Basic salary	HK$4,870
Food expenses	HK$1,236
Accommodation expenses	Varies

 Basic salary

In September 2023, the Hong Kong Government announced that the minimum wage for foreign domestic helpers would be HK$4,870.

(Note: It is required to pay the minimum wage to your domestic helper; any underpayment is counted as illegal.)

Food expenses

But that’s just the basic salary. On top of that, you would need to provide food for the domestic helper. If the employers choose not to provide free food to the helpers, it requires HK$1,236 in food expenses per month.

Accommodation expenses

According to Hong Kong law, it is required to provide a domestic helper with ‘suitable accommodation’ within your home. However, a separate room for the domestic helper is not necessary.

First-Time Hiring Expenses Overview

Fee	Approximate Cost
One basic medical examination	HK$400-600
Consulate fee	HK$280-360
Hong Kong immigration visa fee	HK$230
General fees for partner agencies	Varies
Travel expenses	HK$2,000-HK$5,000 (round-trip ticket)
Insurance Policy	HK$250-400

Travel expenses to come to Hong Kong and go home

Before hiring, you should arrange for a round-trip for your domestic helper to come to Hong Kong and return home. The cost typically ranges from HK$2,000 to HK$5,000, depending on the place of origin.

Note that other travel expenses, such as holiday expenses, are not included in the contract, but they can be considered a gift to the domestic helper for a special occasion because Christmas is a big thing in the Philippines!

Insurance policy for the domestic helper

To employ a domestic helper, it is necessary to have an insurance policy that provides coverage of $100,000,000 per event. Below are some references for the insurance policy:

Major Insurance Plans Overview

Major Insurance Plans	Policy Coverage	1-Year Plan Fee
AIG Domestic Worker Protector Basic Plan	Employees’ Compensation: HK$100,000,000/event	HK$285
BlueCross MaidSafe Insurance Plan A	Employees’ Compensation: HK$100,000,000/event	HK$315
AXA	Employees’ Compensation: HK$100,000,000/event Insured Helper’s Inpatient and Day Surgery Expenses: HK$30,000/policy year Dental Expenses: HK$2,000/policy year Dishonesty Protection: HK$8,000/policy helper	HK$682.10
Hang Seng Domestic Helper Insurance Plan	Employees’ Compensation: HK$100,000,000/event Insured Helper’s Inpatient and Day Surgery Expenses: HK$25,000/policy year Clinical Expenses: HK$2,000/policy year	HK$658.75

In general, the basic insurance policy costs around HK$250-HK$400 per year. However, if you are looking for additional perks such as coverage for inpatient and day surgery expenses, as well as dental expenses, the insurance plan may cost slightly more, up to HK$800 per year.

When should the salary and food allowance for the domestic helper be paid?

Paying by bank transfer is highly recommended to maintain records. However, if the domestic helper does not possess a bank account or prefers to receive cash payments, it is advised that both parties sign a monthly salary receipt and retain a copy of it. You can find a sample salary receipt in the Hong Kong Labour Department’s Practical Guide for the Employment of Foreign Domestic Helpers.

What should you prepare when you first hire a domestic helper?

Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking to hire a domestic helper: It’s helpful to have a checklist, so here are some important points to consider:

Applying for a Visa for the domestic helper

Both the helper and employer are required to submit to the Government of the HKSAR as stated in Part 6 of the “Visa/Extension of Stay Application Form for Domestic Helper from Abroad” (ID 988A) and “Application for Employment of Domestic Helper from Abroad” (ID 988B).

Make sure the living space requirements are met

According to Hong Kong law, you are required to provide suitable accommodation for a domestic helper in your home. This means that the helper must live with you, but it does not necessarily require a separate room.

Suitable accommodation includes ensuring reasonable privacy for the domestic helper. They cannot share a room with a teenager or an adult of the opposite sex. This allows for solutions such as partitioning off a section of living space or having the domestic helper share a bedroom with a child. Suitable accommodation must also provide a bed, pillows, blankets, a wardrobe, a light, access to water, and access to a toilet and bathing facilities.

Paying all necessary costs for the application

When hiring a helper from the Philippines, you may need to pay the following fees:

• Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) fee (for processing the exit permit and mandatory briefing session)
• Mandatory insurance
• Medical examination fees
• Notarization fee (charged by the Philippines Consulate General in Hong Kong)
• Visa fee (charged by the Immigration Department)
• HK$100 per day for food and travel expenses, as stated in the contract.
• Reimburse the cost of necessary document preparation.

Assign the job duties and rest days

Remember to communicate to your helper the specific domestic duties you expect them to perform. These duties should align with the “Schedule of Accommodation and Domestic Duties” specified in the employment contract. So, how many holidays does a domestic helper have?

Under the Employment Ordinance, foreign domestic helpers are entitled to the following leaves:

• Rest days
• Statutory holidays
• Paid annual leave

Rest days

You should give your helper at least 1 rest day every 7 days. A rest day is a continuous period of at least 24 hours. Rest days can be scheduled regularly or irregularly. If the rest days are not regular, you should inform the helper of their appointed rest days before the start of each month.

If a statutory holiday falls on my helper’s rest day, a holiday should be given on the following day that is not a statutory holiday, an alternative/substituted holiday, or a rest day.

How many days of annual leave should be given to a helper in a year? 

A helper is entitled to paid annual leave after working for 12 months with the same employer. The length of paid annual leave increases from 7 to a maximum of 14 days based on the length of service.

Years of Service	The number of days of paid annual leave in a year
1	7
2	7
3	8
4	9
5	10
6	11
7	12
8	13
9 or above	14

Minimum 7-day return to origin before contract renewal

If both parties agree to renew the contract, the helper shall return to his or her place of origin at the expense of the employer before the new contract commences. During this period, the helper is entitled to a paid or unpaid vacation of not less than 7 days, as specified in the standard employment contract.

However, if the Director of Immigration grants prior approval for an extension of stay in Hong Kong, the helper may not be required to return to their place of origin.

Note that leave and payment records should be properly kept to avoid future disputes.

Get insurance for your domestic helper

To comply with the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, it is necessary to have employees’ compensation insurance to cover work-related injuries for your helper. (Failure to do so is illegal and can lead to a maximum fine of HK$100,000 and a prison sentence of 2 years!)

Insurance requirement

When your helper is ill or injured, you are obligated to provide free medical treatment, regardless of whether or not it is related to their employment. This includes medical consultations, hospitalisation, and emergency dental treatment.

According to the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance (Cap. 282), the minimum insurance coverage required is $100,000,000/event. And the most basic helper insurance from most insurance providers should meet this requirement. However, it is highly recommended that you obtain an insurance policy that offers comprehensive medical and hospitalisation coverage for your helper. Also, it is advised that you keep a copy of the medical records appropriately provided by your helper.

Last few points to notice

Here are a few things that you should take note of before hiring a domestic helper:

• It is illegal under the Immigration Ordinance to ask your helper to work for someone other than the employer named on their visa or to assign them non-domestic duties. Employers who violate the Immigration Ordinance may face prosecution.
• You should not keep the helper’s identification documents (e.g., ID card, passport, etc.) with you. No one should hold onto these documents without the helper’s permission.
• You can get insured to protect your property from being stolen.

Frequently asked questions: Hiring a domestic helper in Hong Kong

What is the minimum wage for hiring a domestic helper in Hong Kong?

The minimum wage for foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong is HK$4,870, as announced by the Hong Kong government in September 2023. If employers choose not to provide free food, an additional HK$1,236 per month is required.

When should the salary and food allowance for the domestic helper be paid?

It is recommended to pay the salary and food allowance by bank transfer to maintain records. However, if the domestic helper does not possess a bank account or prefers cash payments, both parties should sign a monthly salary receipt and retain a copy of it.

What should be done when first hiring a domestic helper?

When first hiring a domestic helper, the employer should apply for the necessary visa, ensure that all hiring requirements are met, pay necessary costs such as food and travel expenses, assign job duties and rest days, and obtain insurance coverage for the helper.

What holidays are domestic helpers entitled to?

Under the Employment Ordinance, domestic helpers in Hong Kong are entitled to rest days, statutory holidays, and paid annual leave. Rest days should be given at least once every 7 days, and if a statutory holiday falls on a rest day, an alternative holiday should be given.

How many days of annual leave should be given to a helper in a year?

A domestic helper is entitled to paid annual leave after working for 12 months with the same employer. The length of paid annual leave increases from 7 to a maximum of 14 days based on the length of service, as specified in the employment contract.

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