How much should Employer paid salary to domestic helper per month? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong should be paid not less than the Minimum Allowable Wage of HK$4,730 per month if their employment contracts are made on or after 1 October 2022. Back to Top | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Can I agree with my helper to pay lesser amount of wages than the minimum allowable wage (MAW)? What is the prevailing MAW? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. an employer cannot agree with the helper to pay lesser amount of wages than the minimum allowable wage. Approval for the importation of foreign domestic helper is based on facts submitted to the Director of Immigration, whereby the employer has agreed to pay not less than the minimum allowable wage. An employer who underpays wages as stated in the standard employment contract is liable, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of HK$350,000 and three years’ imprisonment. The employer would also be committing serious offences of making false representation to an Immigration Officer and conspiracy to defraud. Any person convicted of making false representation is liable to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Back to Top | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Can an employer deduct the helper’s wages to compensate for damage to goods caused by him/her? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
An employer can make deductions for damage or loss to the employer’s goods or property directly attributable to the helper’s negligence or default. In any one case, the sum to be deducted shall be the cost of the damaged item, subject to a limit of HK$300. The total of such deductions shall not exceed one quarter of the wages payable to the helper in that wage period.
Except with the approval in writing of the Commissioner for Labour, the total of all deductions, excluding those for absence from work, made in any one wage period must not exceed one half of the wages payable for that period. Back to Top | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
May either both of party terminate their contract within 2 years? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Either party may terminate the employment contract by giving one month’s notice or one month’s wages in lieu of notice to the other party.
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How long A foreign domestic helper may entitled statutory holidays and annual leave? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
After serving 3 months, a foreign domestic helper is entitled to the following rate:
A foreign domestic helper is entitled to paid annual leave after serving every period of 12 months with the same employer at the following rate: 7 days each for the first and second year of service; and starting from the third year, the number increases by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 14 days.
If the helper has worked continuously for the employer for three months preceding any of these holidays, he/she is entitled to the holiday pay. Back to Top | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How should I grant annual leave to my helper on completion or termination of employment contract? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A leave year means any period of 12 months commencing on the day on which his employment commenced and an anniversary of such day.
If an employee has been employed for a leave year and his employment contract is terminated, irrespective of the reasons of termination, he should be entitled to payment in lieu of any annual leave not yet taken. In calculating the daily rate of the payment, the “date of termination of contract” should be adopted as the “specified date”. (see the preceding part on Annual Leave Pay) An employee with three but less than 12 months' employment in a leave year and his employment contract is terminated other than for the reason of summary dismissal due to his serious misconduct, he would be entitled to pro rata annual leave pay. Back to Top | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Should employer responsible provide to the helper air-ticket from Hong Kong to his/her place of origin upon termination or expiry of the contract? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yes. Upon termination or expiry of the contract, employer should provide free passage, usually an air ticket covering airport tax for you to return to your place of origin, and a daily food and travelling allowance of minimum HK$100. Back to Top | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How should an employer pay wages to my helper? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
You are advised to pay wages by cheque or by auto payment into your helpers bank account. But not cash payment. You are required to keep records of wage payments. Back to Top | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Under what circumstances should an employer pay long service payment to a helper? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
An employer should pay long service payment to the helper if he/she has worked continuously for not less than five years, and:
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How are severance payment and long service payment calculated? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following formula applies to the calculation of both severance payment and long service payment: : [(Monthly wages 2/3 ) reckonable years of services ] *Service of incomplete year should be calculated on a pro rata basis. Back to Top | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Would a helper be entitled to severance payment and long service payment simultaneously? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. A helper will not be simultaneously entitled to both long service payment and severance payment. A helper dismissed by reason of redundancy is entitled to severance payment but not long service payment. Back to Top | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Can an employer dismiss a pregnant helper? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A helper is eligible for 10 weeks paid maternity leave if;
Maternity leave pay is equal to four-fifths for the normal wages. It should be paid on the normal pay day of the helper. Back to Top | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Can I entered into another contract of employment with the helpers? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Upon termination or expiry of the contract, what items of payment should I pay to my helper? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Can an employer or a helper terminate the contract without notice or payment in lieu? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termination without notice or payment in lieu is allowed only under special circumstances. For Employer - You may summarily dismiss your helper without notice or payment in lieu of notice if your helper, in relation to the employment:
For Helper - You may terminate your employment contract without notice or payment in lieu of notice if:
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What should I do if my helper leaves without giving me notice or payment in lieu? OR What should I do if my employer dismisses me without giving me notice or payment in lieu? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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