Hiring a domestic helper in Hong Kong

You Deserve a Great Helper

How to go about hiring one

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www.helperchoice.com

You Deserve a Great Helper How to go about hiring one

HelperChoice

© 2016 HelperChoice

Content

Introduction

Helpers: Introductory guide

Laws regarding domestic work Common terms in the helper industry Can I process the paperwork myself?

What else should I know about the helper industry?

Starting your search What are you looking for?

How to select suitable candidates

Interviewing

What should I prepare before the interview?

Sample interview questions

Deciding & then signing a contract

The importance of previous recommendations

The standard employment contract Notarising the contract

Applying for a visa Applying for your helper’s visa and usual waiting times What documents are needed?

Medical check-up & insurance Should I ask my helper to have a check-up?

Employees’ Compensation Insurance

About HelperChoice

Contact us

Appendix I sample Standard Employment Contract

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Introduction

There are close to 350,000 foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong. These helpers assist with a wide variety of tasks such as cleaning, cooking, washing, and childcare. Legally speaking, your helper is required to live with you at the contractual address. This can be convenient, but it also underscores the importance of finding someone who is a good fit for your family.

This e-book will provide you with all the basic information needed to maximise your chances of finding the right helper. Before starting your search, it’s important to know the terms that are used by other employers, domestic helpers, employment agencies, and the authorities. You should also familiarise yourself with Hong Kong’s laws relating to household work so that you don’t get any nasty surprises.

Once you’re up to speed, you can start your search. With literally hundreds of thousands of helpers looking for jobs at any point in time, it is important that you know what you are looking for. It’s impossible to interview every single helper, but you do want to have a small selection of potential candidates.

The critical point in finding the right helper is the interview. This is the time when you can ask all your burning questions, explain what you are looking for in a helper, and introduce, at least verbally, the candidate to your family and home. Remember that just like you, candidates also want to ensure that you are a suitable match for them.

After interviewing all of your shortlisted candidates, you may want to dig deeper. Recommendations can be a deciding factor when it comes to selecting the best helper. That said, for a variety of reasons, recommendations can be deceiving. One employer’s experience can be completely different from another’s.

Now you are almost at the finish line when it comes to hiring a helper. The final tricky part is the paperwork processing so that your helper can get his or her work visa for Hong Kong. Depending on your helper’s current status, there are a couple of routes you can take to ensure your helper will start working for you as soon as possible.

Good luck!

Laurence Fauchon ©2016

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Helpers: Introductory guide

Hiring a foreign domestic helper can be confusing, daunting and simply terrifying. You, like many other employers, may have heard horror stories of irresponsible, immoral, devil-like domestic helpers who steal and are careless with children. But don’t worry, most helpers are wonderful, responsible and energetic people with their hearts in the right place. But why would you hire a foreign domestic helper?

For many newcomers to Hong Kong, the concept of having a full-time housekeeper or nanny is strange.

In Hong Kong, many companies expect their employees to work overtime, thereby decreasing the time that you can spend on cleaning, cooking and grocery shopping. Helpers can assist you with these and other things that you don’t have time for or that you keep postponing. Another great perk of hiring a helper is having more quality time with your kids and partner at night and on the weekends.

Many Hong Kong families and working mothers employ foreign domestic workers and many will tell you things like, “I don’t think we would be able to manage without her”. But in order to find that great helper, you will need to have a good understanding of the industry.

Laws regarding domestic work

Having a solid grasp of the laws and practices common in the industry is highly important when it comes to building a good working relationship with your helper. After all, your helper is an employee and you should be aware of the terms that are used, the common practices, and the regulations.

In Hong Kong, the practices and regulations differ for foreign and local domestic helpers. Local domestic workers can be hired for part-time or full-time work, they can reside at their own place, and they don’t need your sponsorship in order to work legally. Foreign domestic helpers on the other hand can only work full time and reside and work at the residence of the employer who sponsored their visa. You may know at least one family who has a live-out or part-time foreign helper, but be aware that the maximum penalty for this is HK$150,000 and 14 years of imprisonment.

The minimum allowable wage (MAW) for foreign domestic helpers is reviewed annually and is currently HK$4,310. You may decide to offer your helper a higher wage if he or she has significant experience, or after they’ve worked for you for a while. Employers must provide their helpers with free food or a food allowance of at least HK$1,037 per month. You are also required to offer suitable accommodation, insurance, and free medical care.

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Foreign domestic helpers are entitled to one rest day (a continuous period of 24 hours) every 7 days. If you ask your helper to work on their day off, you must provide a rest day in lieu – payment is not allowed.

Helpers are entitled to 12 statutory holidays per year, but in the first three months it’s at the employer’s discretion whether this is paid or unpaid. Helpers are also entitled to annual leave, which is calculated based upon years of service and vacation leave.

Common terms in the helper industry

There are many different terms used in Hong Kong when it comes to helpers. For those newly arrived or those who are hiring for the first time, this can be very confusing. It is advisable to be aware of the different terms because they can significantly impact your search. Hiring procedures differ based on the helper’s country of origin, current visa status, and location.

Terms related to location

Local hire: A helper who is already in Hong Kong because their contract will end soon or has just ended.

Overseas hire: A helper who is in their home country, such as the Philippines or Indonesia, or who is working as a helper in another country.

First-timer: Someone who has never worked overseas as a domestic helper.

Terms related to visa status

Finished contract: A helper has finished their previous 2-year contract and is not renewing with the same employer. The helper is allowed to remain in Hong Kong while waiting for a visa to be issued.

Terminated for relocation/financial reasons: The employer is moving to another country or has financial problems and terminates the helper’s contract as a result. This case will be handled as if the helper had ‘finished contract’ status.

Terminated for other reasons: The employer can also decide to terminate the helper’s employment for another reason other than the abovementioned. In this case, the helper will have to leave Hong Kong before starting a new contract.

Break contract: The helper can decide to break his or her contract if they want to leave their current job. The helper is free to find another employer, but must return to their home country before starting a new contract.

Terms related to contracts

Live out: In this case, the helper will live in a boarding house and not at the contractual address of employment. This is not allowed under Hong Kong law.

Live in: The helper must be provided with suitable accommodation at the contractual address. Many apartments in Hong Kong come with a special helper’s quarter.

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Can I process the paperwork myself?

Only in certain situations can you handle the paperwork yourself. This is not because of regulations on the Hong Kong side, but because of requirements set by sending countries. Many people prefer to do the paperwork themselves because it is much cheaper, because they can ensure that their helpers are not charged any illegal fees, or because they know exactly when all the papers were submitted.

But you can only handle the paperwork yourself if you hire a Filipino domestic helper who is finishing their contract or whose contract has been terminated for relocation or financial reasons. In the first case, check the helper’s current visa for the expiry date. In the latter case, the current employer must contact the Immigration Department to update them on the reason of contract termination. You can check this by asking the helper for a copy of the employer’s form, or by speaking to the current employer. If you’re hiring a Filipino helper who has ‘break contract’ or ‘terminated for other reasons’ status, or if you are hiring an Indonesian helper, you must use an employment agency.

What else should I know about the helper industry?

In recent years, NGOs and the media have reported that many employment agencies overcharge domestic workers on a large scale.

Helpers are asked to pay excessive fees and if they cannot pay upfront, they are forced to take out loans with excessive interest from loan sharks. On average, a helper pays HK$10,000 to find a job – even though the legal placement fee is no more than 10% of the first month’s salary.

Employment agencies are able to thrive and continue these unethical practices due to policies of the sending governments. Employers and helpers can connect directly with one another, but for the paperwork processing, an employment agency must be engaged (except in the case of ‘finished contract’ Filipino helpers).

The high fees do not only impact domestic helpers, but also employers. After all, your hired helper may be threatened by a loan shark, or your helper may have given their passport as collateral, causing sleepless nights. The problem of overcharging is particularly at play when you use an agency to handle the entire process. To avoid this, make use of online platforms like HelperChoice.com as they do not charge the helper any placement fees. If you need an agency for paperwork processing, initiate the contact yourself so that the agency has no hold over your helper.

If you do decide to use an agency for the paperwork processing, or even for the sourcing of a helper, do some research to ensure your helper has not experienced any form of forced labour. No agencies will say upfront that they charge illegal fees, but a quick Google or Facebook search may be enough.

If an agency charges employers a cheaper fee than others, be on alert as they may get the bulk of their income from helpers. Compare a few agencies for prices and practices and if in doubt, rather don’t use that agency.

If you found a helper through HelperChoice.com and want to handle the paperwork by yourself, check out how to do it. > Learn more about how to do the paperwork.

If you would like to use an ethical agency for the paperwork, contact us for referrals.

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Starting your search

Finding the right helper for your family is not always easy. There are many channels that you can use to find a foreign domestic worker. You will have to decide on your own needs, priorities and preferences when it comes to hiring a helper. With HelperChoice, you can rest assured that the helper you are hiring does not have any hiring-related debts and that they are signing with you out of their own free will.

At HelperChoice.com, you can browse through hundreds of detailed helper profiles that have all the information a CV would. We believe that the chances of a successful hire significantly increase when both the employer and the helper are in control of the process, with no middleman included. But besides being in charge, you will need to keep a few things in mind so that your search is not only successful, but also efficient.

What are you looking for?

It is important that you have at least a rough idea of what you are looking for in a helper before you start the hiring process. Think about questions like: What kind of experience should my helper have?

What educational level do you prefer? Do you need your helper for any special duties? Write everything down that comes to mind. You can ask friends and family members for their opinions, especially if they have some experience with hiring helpers. However, just as everyone is different, everyone will have a different ideal helper profile.

After you’ve created your “ideal” list based on the above questions, sit down and decide what your three deal-breakers are and what your three must-haves are. Discuss these with your family members and come up with a final list. A short list will ensure that you don’t get lost in the process, especially if you are looking at hundreds of profiles in a short period of time. We strongly advise that you keep in mind that you’re not looking for the perfect helper (he or she does not exist), but for a helper that you have a click with and who you think you can come to trust.

We are aware that most employers are looking for ‘finished contract’ or ‘contract terminated for relocation or financial reasons’ helpers. We understand that the hiring procedures are much simpler, shorter and cheaper, but know that by excluding candidates based on visa status, you may miss out on a helper that would have fit your family perfectly.

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Hiring the right helper means reduced anxiety levels and frustration after the hire. And isn’t peace of mind worth the slightly longer waiting time and higher fees?

How to select suitable candidates

Now that you’ve decided what you are looking for, it will be considerably easier to sift through all the profiles on HelperChoice.com. You may use the filter on the website as it can help you with making a first screening, but you can also browse through all the profiles if you have more spare time on your hands. If you come across a profile that you’re interested in, you can shortlist the helper by simply clicking on the heart symbol or by saving the website link. If you’re uncertain about a candidate, add them to the shortlist, but make a short note for yourself about why you’re hesitant.

After you’ve created your first shortlist of suitable candidates, you can message them with a short job description and an introduction to your family. Most helpers will be busy working and their current employers may not allow them to use their phones at work, so be patient. Based on the initial replies of the helpers, you may narrow down your selection further.

Helpers may also contact you if they feel they are suitable for the job, provided you posted your job ad. Don’t automatically delete their messages, but allocate yourself 30 minutes to go through them – you may have missed out on some really good candidates in your own search! Make your final selection and invite candidates for interviews. Congratulations, you’re one step closer to hiring a great domestic helper!

Ready to start your own search for a great domestic helper? Check out profiles on the HelperChoice website now.

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> Search helper profiles.

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Interviewing

The interview is a crucial step in your quest for a trustworthy and capable domestic helper.

In the interview, you will be able to assess the candidate’s communication skills and motivation. This process is difficult to outsource as it all depends on your click with the candidate and on intuition, and because the domestic helper will take care of your children and your home.

We recommend that you personally interview all shortlisted candidates face-to-face or via a video call.

This way, you can assess the candidate’s body language as well as their personality. A candidate may look great on paper, but may turn out to be a bad communicator, for example. In addition, a candidate with less experience may be more open to guidance as opposed to the candidate with years of experience under their belt.

What should I prepare before the interview?

Good preparation is half the battle won. Plan ahead of your interview so that you will not face any unexpected problems. The first important thing to consider is the location of the interview. Choose a place where you feel comfortable so you can fully concentrate on the interview. If you decide to meet a candidate in public, find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed by an overly active waiter or asked to leave after an hour. If you conduct the interview via phone or video call, make sure you have a good connection and will not be disturbed by your boss or crying children.

Most helpers may only be available to meet for an interview on weekends. It can be tempting to try and meet as many candidates as possible in one day, but make sure you allow sufficient time for each one so you can get to know candidates as well as possible. Being rushed could mean overlooking that really important personality trait. Also, interview at least a couple of candidates so you have a basis for comparison and do not make rushed decisions. At the same time, other employers may snatch up the best helpers quickly so you will have to find a balanced timeframe.

If you are interviewing many candidates, it may be useful to make your own checklist with a couple of important pointers. This will help you recall the important details of your interview. It will also allow you to write a short summary on which basis you can make a well-informed decision.

Prepare targeted, clear questions and use a checklist to record the answers. It may be difficult to recall all the questions that you wanted to ask during the interview, which is why we advise that you print your list of questions. On the day of the interview, confirm the interview time and location with the

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candidates. Sometimes, helpers are not interested in the job, but they don’t know how to say no.

Instead they will not show up. So send them a quick text or WhatsApp message on the day to confirm, just like restaurants and clinics do in Hong Kong. This will help you avoid wasting time and energy.

Sample interview questions

Skills Q1: Are you a good cook? What kind of food can you cook (Chinese, Western, vegetarian, etc.)? Are you able to follow recipes from a cookbook? If so, which cookbooks have you used?

Q2: What qualifications do you have? Have you taken any specific training, either abroad or in your country of origin?

Q3: Are you better with household chores, children, or cooking?

Experience Q4: Can you describe your typical working day with your current employer: What is your work schedule? What are your responsibilities? What do you like and dislike about it? Do you think your current work is easy or too difficult?

Q5: How many past employers have you had and how long have you worked for each of them? Do you have any recommendation letters or contact information? Where were they located?

Q6: What is your current pay? What are your salary expectations? If above the minimum salary, what makes you think you are worth more than other candidates?

Q7: How old were the children you took care of in your previous positions? Do you love working with children? Can you take care of a baby? Do you know first aid? If my child bangs his head and then feels sick or sleepy, what would you do? If my child is naughty and talks to you in a rude way, what would you do?

Q8: What other technical qualities would you say you have? Can you sew? Can you change a bulb?

Are you willing to do these tasks?

Personal qualities & related information Q9: Would you say that you are an autonomous person, able to take initiative? Or do you prefer to be told how to do things? How would you describe yourself?

Q10: What are your interests aside from work? Are you religious? If so, which religion? Do you attend church on Sundays? Do you like sports? Do you like reading? Watching movies? Do you have a lot of friends here? Do you have some relatives here? Are you afraid of being far from your family? Do you have regular contact with them?

Q11: Where are you from? How long have you been in this city?

Q12: What is your marital status? Do you have children? If you do, who is taking care of them now?

Expectations Q13: What do you expect from a position as a domestic helper? What are your dreams and goals in life? How long do you plan to live and work abroad?

Q14: Do you know the city and surroundings well? Do you know this particular district? Why do you want to work in this area?

Q15: If applicable: Why are you looking to change employers and not renew your current contract? Is this your choice or is it your current employer’s choice? What are you expecting to gain from changing jobs?

Found that great helper? Check out how to do the paperwork.

©2016

> Search helper profiles.

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Deciding & then signing a contract

Deciding on which helper to hire is not always easy, especially if you have interviewed many strong candidates. At the same time, candidates must also decide whether they want to work for you. If you think you have found the right candidate, meet them again to discuss the job details and to let them know about the job duties in more detail. This is also the time to let the candidate know about potential bonuses and additional flights back home.

If you really like a particular candidate, but want to think about it a bit longer, ask them to contact you should someone else offer them a job. But don’t wait too long, they might be in a hurry to secure a new job. If you are deciding between two or three candidates, you can ask each helper for their current or previous employer’s contact information so that you can speak to them and take the feedback into account when making your decision.

If you’ve already decided, you can get a copy of the employment contract from the Immigration Department and sign it together with your candidate. Next, the document will need to be notarised by the helper’s consulate before you can apply for a visa.

The importance of previous recommendations

Many employers would like to speak to previous employers about their candidates. It can be very frustrating when you think you have found a great helper but you cannot verify their employment history or the skills they have. Should you still hire this helper or should you continue your search?

This really depends on you. Recommendations can give you an idea of what to expect. In a recommendation, a previous employer may share the main duties of the helper, and if you are lucky, you get to read about the cooking skills of a helper or how great they are with kids. A recommendation can also give you an idea of the weaknesses of a candidate.

At the same time, not all employers will be completely honest about their current helper. If the helper decided not to renew their contract, or decided to resign, the employer may be upset and could try to sabotage the helper’s job search. If the employer was abusive, he or she is also not going to tell you that. In addition, a glowing or negative recommendation can also simply be due to different expectations, managing styles, or preferences. What the previous employer did not appreciate in the helper may be something that you actually really encourage.

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In the end, you are the one hiring a helper and deciding on what you feel comfortable with. If you believe recommendations are incredibly important, then insist to have one. If you don’t find it crucial, don’t let it be a deal-breaker.

The standard employment contract

Once you’ve found a great helper, you’ll have to sign a contract. But no worries, you don’t have to design a contract yourself. The Labour and Immigration Department have devised a standard employment contract (form ID 407) specifically for domestic helpers.

The employment contract specifies all terms of employment such as the contract period, the employer’s residential address where the helper will work and reside, the helper’s salary, and the food allowance should no free food be provided. In addition, the contract also stipulates all the obligations of the employer in order to protect helpers’ rights.

Attached to the contract is a “Schedule of Accommodation and Domestic Duties” which must also be completed. This includes the size of the flat, the number and breakdown of the persons in the household, the details of the helper’s accommodation and available facilities, and the duties that the helper will perform.

Both you and your helper must sign the employment contract. Make sure you abide by all the obligations and terms because if you are found to break these, you can be prosecuted. Read the contract carefully and ask questions if there’s anything that you don’t understand.

The contract comes in four copies: one for you, one for the helper, one for the Immigration Department, and one for the helper’s consulate. You must fill out all four copies and take them to the consulate of the country where your helper comes from before you submit a visa application to the Immigration Department.

Notarising the contract

Before you can apply for a visa for your helper, you must notarise the contract. All contracts have to be notarised before the helper will be approved to work in Hong Kong. Employers hiring an Indonesian domestic helper must use an employment agency to notarise the visa and to apply for a visa. If you are hiring a Filipino helper who has ‘finished contract’ status or whose contract was terminated for relocation or financial reasons, you can get the contract notarised yourself.

Notarisation takes 7 days (with the Philippine Consulate), but in busy times it can take longer. However, documents can only be submitted and picked up from Sunday to Thursday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Philippine Consulate: 14/F United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong. Before submitting the application, please ensure that all documents are in order. If your helper submits the paperwork, you must settle the fees upon receiving the receipt.

Wonder what the employment contract looks like? Check it out.

> Sample employment contract.

If you would like to use an ethical agency for the paperwork, contact us for referrals.

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Applying for a visa

After you have signed the standard employment contract and gotten it notarised, you can apply for a work visa for your helper. The process is fairly straightforward, but it can be challenging to actually submit the documents at the Immigration Department. There are many stories of helpers queueing up at 3 a.m. and some even sleeping at the Immigration headquarters just to ensure they can process their papers. But queueing up early is not necessary.

Unfortunately, your helper can only start their job after receiving a visa. It can be frustrating to wait for your helper to start, but it will only be a few weeks before they can join your family. There are a few other resources out there to find legal part-time help, such as local Chinese cleaners or cleaning companies. Time flies, so before you know it your hired helper will join your family and take over the household duties.

Applying for your helper’s visa and usual waiting times

To avoid any unnecessary delays in the visa application, follow all the required procedures to a tee. If the helper has ‘finished contract’ or ‘terminated for relocation or financial reasons’ status, you can submit all the paperwork either in person or by post at the 2nd floor of the Wan Chai Immigration Tower. If you are renewing your helper’s visa, make an online appointment for your helper (who can go him or herself) – the helper’s visa will be issued on the same day. For a new hire, if there are no problems with any of the papers submitted, you will be informed when the visa is ready.

Generally speaking, a domestic helper must return to their home country before starting a new contract. However, if your helper is considered ‘finished contract’ or ‘terminated for relocation or financial reasons’, you can apply for special permission to let your helper start immediately. You must indicate this on the application form (requesting an extension of stay). If approved, the helper must take home leave within 365 days. In this case, the helper can wait in Hong Kong for the successful issuance of their visa, provided that their current visa is still valid.

We understand you are eager to have your helper start as soon as possible, but you must wait until the visa has been issued. The Immigration Department processes 90% of visa applications within 4 to 6 weeks. If your helper has ‘finished contract’ status, the visa issuing process should be straightforward and they can start working on the day it is issued. If your helper had to wait in their home country for the

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visa, they should be able to join you as soon as they have received their visa. This can take a bit longer due to the mandatory training that needs to be taken, waiting for the results of the medical check-up, and the booking of flight tickets. The paperwork processing times, as shown on the graphic, include the entire duration from the date the contract is signed to the date the helper starts their job. Most employers prefer to hire a helper who is considered ‘finished contract’ because it is faster, but sometimes a great helper is worth waiting for.

What documents are needed?

To ensure a smooth visa application process, make sure all documents are in good order and that nothing is missing. If you are hiring a finished-contract Filipino helper, or if you are renewing your Filipino helper’s contract, you can submit the documents to the Immigration Department by yourself. You can submit the below documents either by post or in person at the 2nd floor of the Wan Chai Immigration Tower.

• Completed form “Visa/Extension of Stay Application Form for Domestic Helper from Abroad” (ID 998A); • Completed form “Application for Employment of Domestic Helper from Abroad” (ID 988B); • An original copy of the standard Employment Contract (ID 407), notarised by the appropriate consulate; • Original of the helper’s travel document (only for in-person application); • Copy of the helper’s travel document; • Copy of the helper’s HKID card (if any); • Copy of the employer’s HKID card and passport if not a permanent resident; • Proof of the employer’s financial position (copy); • Proof of the employer’s residential address, less than 3 months old (copy); • Testimonial of the helper (only for new, first-time entry); • Release letter from current employer showing the date of expiry or termination of the contract; • Current employer’s supporting letter to confirm continuous employment (only for contract renewal).

Please note that a lot of people may be applying for a helper visa at the same time, and that there is a limited walk-in quota. Your helper may have to wait a long time, so instead you can consider submitting the application by post. In this case, be sure to send the documents by registered post so they don’t get lost. After the visa has been issued, your helper will need to pick it up directly.

For more information on the visa application, you can refer to the Immigration Department’s website.

> Entry visa for a new helper (from abroad). > Change of employer. > Contract renewal.

If you prefer to use an ethical agency for the paperwork, contact us for referrals.

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Medical check-up & insurance

Hiring a helper to join your family can be daunting, especially because they will live with you. Your helper’s medical health will be important since he or she will be with your children or elderly parents day in and day out. When you are hiring a helper, it is good to do a medical check-up so that you are aware of any medical conditions.

After you’ve hired a helper, you’ll be responsible for providing them with free medical coverage. To keep the costs down, consider taking out a comprehensive insurance package so that you don’t have to worry about unexpected situations. In Hong Kong, domestic helpers have access to government clinics and public hospitals if they have a valid HKID card. That said, do protect yourself against nasty surprises should your helper suddenly fall ill.

Should I ask my helper to have a check-up?

Most helpers undergo a medical check-up before they leave their home countries. In some instances, you may want to do another medical check-up for a second opinion after your helper arrives in Hong Kong. In addition, note that if you are hiring a helper who does not have to return to their home country before starting with you, they are not required to undergo a medical check-up.

That said, clause 17 of the standard employment contract includes a statement on the fitness of the helper: “The Parties hereby declare that the Helper has been medically examined as to his/her fitness for employment as a domestic helper and his/her medical certificate has been produced for inspection by the Employer.” In addition, it is not only important to ensure the helper’s medical fitness, but also their overall medical situation.

Your helper will live at your house and spend a lot of time with your children so it’s important that they are healthy. You also don’t want your helper to be regularly off work because they are constantly ill and in need of medical care. We therefore strongly recommend that you send your helper for a medical check-up before they start their job.

There are a few clinics in Hong Kong that conduct special check-ups for domestic helpers, but not all offer the same services. When comparing medical check-ups, look for the following examinations: blood analysis, hepatitis screening, kidney function, venereal screening, AIDS screening, stool test, and a lung imaging test. Feel free to contact us at HelperChoice for recommendations so that you can rest assured that your home is in good hands.

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Employees’ Compensation Insurance

When you hire a domestic helper, or anyone for that matter, you must obtain Employee Compensation Insurance coverage. This will cover your liability should your helper suffer an injury or illness at work. It should be noted that you must also provide your helper with free treatment throughout the period of employment – including when your helper is off duty. Any injuries that occur outside of Hong Kong when your helper is not working for you are excluded.

You should pay for any medical consultations, hospitalisation, and emergency dental treatment. That said, you can decide which registered medical practitioner the helper will visit. In the case of an injury, you should inform the Labour Department by filling out the correct forms. It is important to note that the employer must cover all costs, so we strongly suggest that you take out a comprehensive helper insurance package that covers more than the Employee Compensation Insurance does.

There are quite a few companies in Hong Kong that provide insurance for domestic helpers, so you can compare and contrast before deciding. Some important policy terms to consider include: Work injuries, health insurance, personal accident insurance, repatriation expenses, loan protection insurance, and so on. If you are travelling and your helper is joining in a working capacity, consider taking out travel insurance as well. You are free to choose what you feel most comfortable with, but consider the potential consequences if you only purchase the most basic insurance package.

Finally, there are a few regulations regarding insurance that you should be aware of. If you fail to take out the Employee Compensation Insurance, you are liable to a hefty fine or imprisonment. You cannot deduct any amounts from your helper’s salary to pay for the insurance, and if your helper submits a written request for information about the insurance policy, you must provide this. It may seem a nuisance to look for insurance policies, but in the end it is also there to protect you.

If you want more information on the medical check-up or insurance packages, feel free to contact us.

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> Email HelperChoice.

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About HelperChoice

HelperChoice empowers employers to find domestic helpers who meet all of their requirements, such as years of experience in HK and overseas, skills needed to perform expected duties, or holding the right contract status. Even better, HelperChoice is a social-impact startup that eradicates illegal placement fees and gives better balance to the hiring process. HelperChoice enables both employers and helpers to find the best match.

Services: • Browse through hundreds of helper profiles.

• Shortlist those profiles that meet your requirements.

• Private message helpers directly to get to know more about them.

• Request phone numbers to contact helpers by phone.

• Let our system contact relevant helpers for you so that you only have to contact those who are interested in your job (Smart Premium Feature).

You may know us from:

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Contact HelperChoice

We are happy to assist you with any queries you may have.

Check us out now at:

www.helperchoice.com

Or contact us:

Email: inquiry@helperchoice.com Telephone: +852 3954-5022

Licensed Employment Agency in Hong Kong:

© HelperChoice Ethical Services Licence No. 52323

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Appendix I Standard Employment Contract (ID407)

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