How to Hire a Domestic Helper in Hong Kong
“If you have a domestic helper, you have heartaches. If you don’t have a domestic helper, you have hand aches.” This is my mom speaking. Obviously doesn’t work as well translated in English, but you get the gyst.
I am currently on my 3rd domestic helper within the span of a year. If you’re lucky, you get a great helper. If you’re not, you get one who can potentially be lazy, a horrible cook, dishonest and just darn right bad. My current helper is amazing. I’ve only had her for 2 weeks+ but so far, she’s getting an A in most categories. F for cooking (but that’s not my priority) and F for communication (so now I’m learning Indonesian).
Think of your needs first
First and foremost, you have to consider what kind of domestic helper suits your needs best. You can hire full-time, part-time or live-ins. The article below is dedicated to hiring foreign domestic help. A live in helper is very common in Hong Kong, but I am still not used to having a body I don’t recognize as family living in my space. Since the publication of this article, I’ve gotten many questions about hiring part-times who don’t live in. If you’re interested in going part-time in Hong Kong, please see this “Employees Retraining Board” which is run by the Labour Department in Hong Kong. The one key thing about hiring a foreign domestic helper is that they HAVE to live at the specified address of the sponsor (unless otherwise given permission by the government) and work at that address as well. I know people who pay their helpers to live out in boarding houses, but keep in mind - this is illegal.
How it works
Hiring a foreign domestic is very common in Hong Kong. Each hire is fixed to a minimum 2-year contract.
There are 2 types of foreign domestic help you can hire. One is overseas helpers (which means they don’t have the visa to work in Hong Kong at the present time) and one is local (which means they have a valid visa for only so long - usually 2 weeks from the point of their last contract). These days, you can hire foreign domestic helpers from Indonesia, Philippines, Nepal, Thailand, and a few other south asian countries. The most common in Hong Kong though is currently Philippines and Indonesia.
Locals
These helpers are no longer contracted (or their contracts will be ending soon). When you visit agents on Sunday, you’ll see many of them sitting around and waiting for new potential employers. The good thing about these types is that you can see them and interview them and they have local experience. They can be contracted immediately and can commence work as soon as the contract work is done (usually 2 weeks). The bad thing is that when demand is high, they can be choosy too. So in my case, when the mum is at home, many say no. Be reminded that some of the local hires may also have had their contracts terminated permaturely, so it’s important to check length of previous contracts and if possible, get references. As well, agent fees are greater for these hires because you’re skipping over the training fee process (which I will talk about later).
Overseas
Overseas are usually uncontracted. Many of them are coming out of their local training centers. The good is that their training is still fresh (so they will bow and say “yes mum”) and can consistently fold your underwear and iron your bedsheets. The bad is that you can’t interview face-to-face (although some agents do have web cam interviews) and some references are deadends because they may have worked in other countries, other than Hong Kong and the agent doesn’t have previous employment information. The hiring process for overseas is about 2-3 months in length. For helpers coming out of training centers, they then have to pay HKD$21,000 back to the agency for a loan they borrowed to go through training - so they don’t actually pocket anything until after 7 months of employment. Which means, they have a lot more to lose for an early termination. I know this because one day my new helper showed me her repayment schedule (mailed to my home) and was confused about how to repay it, so I’ve arranged to up her salary to the day she’s worked in order to repay this loan.
I have actually hired both locals and overseas. From personal experience, you can find good and bad domestic helpers from both routes.
How to Qualify
In order to qualify hiring a domestic helper, the sponsor must be a Hong Kong resident with either have a minimum income of HKD $15,000/month or enough assets to support the helper for the duration of their employment.
You must be able to provide:
- Proof of income (original bank statements or deposit slips with at least 3 months of employment shown - or assets)
- Proof of address (gas, utility, water, land tax bills etc)
- Proof of residency (HKID)
The interview
It’s so critical to ask questions during the interview - and you HAVE to do an interview, or else you’re just randomly choosing someone who resides in your house, interacts with you and your family, cooks your food and basically knows the ins and outs to your life. Below, I’ve posted my interview questions. The one key question to ask though is: “If mum is at home, is it OK?”. If this is a “no”, I don’t need to continue further.
Employment History
1. Do you have references that I can call and speak to?
2. Tell me about your last job?
3. What did you like about your previous job?
4. What did you learn the most from your previous job?
Personal
1. Are you married? Do you have children?
2. Do you have a boyfriend?
3. Do you have brothers and/or sisters?
4. Tell me 3 things (qualities) you like about yourself.
5. Tell me 3 things you think you are good at.
6. Have you ever been seriously ill? With what? When?
7. What do you like doing in your free time?
8. Have you ever done a first aid course?
9. Do you smoke?
10. Do you drink?
11. Do you have any outstanding debts?
12. On holidays, what do you think is an appropriate time to come home?
Domestic Care
1. Do you like cooking? What kind of things did you cook for your last employer?
2. How would you cook ________?
3. How would you do laundry? (Provide example of people living in the house)
4. What do you think is a good daily routine for a clean household?
Child Care
1. Have you looked after children before? What ages?
2. Do you like children? What ages best?
3. How would you prepare an 8-month old baby’s food?
4. How would you clean baby bottles?
5. How would you put an infant to sleep?
Yes, I’m a nit picker. I have stringent hiring guidelines because this is afterall, MY HOUSE and MY CHILDREN.
Costs
The current domestic helper minimum monthly salary is HKD $3580 for contracts signed on or after July 10, 2008. You can obviously pay more if you see fit, but what I’ve done is created a bonus system in which the helper is entitled to earn a bonus after her probation period (3 months) and then yearly. On top of that, she gets additional bonuses from my in-laws, I’ll give her red pockets on her birthday, Christmas and Chinese New Year. We also have to pay a government levy of HKD $400/month - which is now being waived for contracts signed on or after August 1, 2008. See here for details.
On top of these fees is agency fees. If you’ve gone through an agent, that obviously will cost you money and the fee varies from agency to agency. I paid HKD $3800 for a local hire (which includes airfare - because they are entitled to 7 days vacation for every year, body checkup, visas and agency fees).
For helpers who manage to stay 5+ years, they are entitled to a “long service” bonus (given at the end of their contract - if not renewed, or upon dismissal - see below on the reference for Foreign Domestic Helper Guide for exact details). The bonus is: (Monthly wages x 2/3) x years of service). I hate to say this about Hong Kong employers, but I know so many helpers who have 4 years of service with one employer and then aren’t renewed because the employer doesn’t want to pay the long service bonus. I have even seen employers who change the sponsor from wife to husband in order to avoid this. WHAT? You’re obviously keeping the helper because they are performing to par, so give them their damn bonus!
In addition, if they aren’t eating the family food - which means separate meals, you have to pay HKD $300/month for them to cover their own food expenses. I stand on the fence with this because maybe there are families that prefer the helper to eat separately. Of course, it’s probably just easier for them to eat whatever you’re eating - what’s another cup of rice?
You also have the option of buying insurance - which I must say, is a must. This protects you in case of injury, accidents or death while the domestic helper is employed at your house. It also covers being ill and doctor visits. The cost is roughly HKD $500/year so it’s definitely worth it!
Holidays
You are required to give your domestic helper 24 hours rest for every week they work. It can be on any day, but most helpers will request Sunday. In addition, they are entitled to statutory holidays (but don’t need to be paid for the statutory holidays for the first 3 months of their contract). You can swap statutory holidays for other days off but you can’t pay them to work in lieu of the holiday (that’s actually illegal). See here for details. Keep in mind, statutory holidays and general holidays are different - so be sure to check the government’s yearly calendar for the right holidays.
Before work begins
So they need a space to sleep in. We provide our helper with her own bedroom and plenty of storage space for her things, plus she has the guest washroom all to herself. It’s so hard in Hong Kong for many families to even provide helpers with their own space. I know someone who built a little room out of a closet for their helper, so she basically climbs into a cubby hole each night.
We have also installed a web cam prior to our helper’s start date. This is merely as a precaution because we haven’t actively used it to date (with any of our helpers). Then again, maybe my husband bought it because he just wanted to play with it.
Another item to consider is a safe. We have finally upgraded our rinky dink key safe to a full blown water-proof, fire-proof, hack-proof, digital safe. It’s so heavy that you can’t carry it out and we are looking to have it bolted to our built in closet in the master bedroom. It’s basically used to store valuables such as jewelry, passports, important documents and cash. In the end, why take any risks? If something does go missing, who can you really blame? Oh, this is on top of the safe deposit box we have with HSBC (I don’t keep all my valuables at home - so don’t come thinking there’s treasure here).
When work begins
Our overseas domestic helper came from Indonesia with one small luggage and no friends. I think it’s been rough on her. The first thing I did was sit her down with a list of rules (yes rules) and we covered everything. Some stuff is common sense, but you have to lay it down early. It’s easier to relax your household policies after, but hard to tighten the cuff when you need to. I basically covered everything to cleaning schedule, disciplining rules of my children, how to handle the telephone, work hours and curfew times (it goes on and on). I know some people may think I’m being tough, but at a normal office, you have rules too. Don’t you sign an employment letter before you begin work?
Problems? I’ve written a new post on “Domestic Helper Issues and How to Deal with them“. This is just my sharing on problems I’ve encountered and while not enforcing termination, resolving them diplomatically and fairly as any employee-employer would in the western world.
My first helper was young. She was 23 and didn’t have children of her own. There were of course, other tiny things that grated me and eventually we terminated her (which included an additional HKD $10,000 for 1 months notice, current prorated monthly salary and airfare). My second helper was only here for 5 days. She was much older than I was (around 45) and was constantly thwarting my authority. She was lazy and only wanted to carry my youngest daughter all day long - which I don’t need her to do because I have 2 functional hands myself. My current and third helper is also young, 23, but has a 9 month old son back home. Like I said, I highly praise her and value her assistance. Our communication is weak, so I’ve taken to learning Indonesian in hopes that we can meet somewhere in the middle to strengthen this gap. In the end, you have to go with your gut feeling with helpers. If something instinctively doesn’t feel right - then it probably isn’t.
I think the critical thing to keep in mind with domestic helpers is that they are “helpers”. She’s a supplement to my duty as household CEO and she’s my right-hand. Having a helper is great - it definitely reduces my workload and gives me time to spend “quality” time with my kids. I personally am not a big fan of having a stranger live with me, but the benefits do outweigh the negatives and my current helper is careful to give my husband our space in the living room when the kids have retired to bed.
If you’d like a copy of my “rules”, let me know - I’ve also had it translated (an earlier version) to Indonesian courtesy of my agency. It’s like 3 pages (courtesy of my sister) and most of it is common sense, but I’m consistent in laying it down for all my helpers. I think my experience with the past 2 helpers have helped me understand what I want as an employer and has helped me in communicating what I expect from my helper. Of course, everything is a 2 way street. Really, it’s karma. Just my 2 cents.
Futher references:
- “How to Train a Domestic Helper“
- “Traveling with a Domestic Helper“
- “Frequently Asked Questions” for Hiring a Foreign Domestic Helper - Government of Hong Kong
- “Foreign Domestic Helper Guide“ in PDF - Government of Hong Kong
- “The Domestic Helper Green Bug“
PUSH!! This is great article as I am gonna need this info very soon. I definitely would like a copy of your “rules”. What do you think about the option of having a “Part Time” helper?
This is a great post Lisa! I’d love some help with my 3 month old daughter!! Unfortunately I am in Canada and this isn’t an option right now while I am on mat leave pay (plus I’d have my mom and MIL yelling at me for paying someone to help me with Hannah hahahha)
I love the pictures of Vanessa and Victoria! How is having 2 daughters? I’m currently thinking about how far apart my next child should be. Right now with Hannah’s personality I’m thinking 5+ years! Heheheh
I am still trying to get used to having Hannah around. She is NOT a good napper during the day. And this is why I need a helper. My house looks like a complete mess and I look like a bag lady when I go out! Hahahah
Glad to see you’re doing well in HK!
Lisa, you should have started working on this blog earlier! This is such a great post, I don’t think I did ask my current helper half of those questions when I interviewed her. If you don’t mind, I’m gonna print this blog out and keep it on file in case I may need to re-hire again sometime in the future. But for now, we’re happy w/ ours, thanks God, we’re so blessed finding this current one we have.
See ya around soon!
Awesome post and very informative! I likes! Hope others can refer to this post when the time comes to hiring and orienting helpers of their own. Next up: full-time versus part-time, old versus young, and the different nationalities of helpers.
Hi,
I was browsing in the net and looking for the “rules” for helpers. I’m so glad to have come across your post. Please please please send me a copy of your “rules”. I would be implementing this to my helpers. I am so laxed with my helpers that I’m often being abused of my kindness. I want to implement stricter rules.
THanks in advance.
[...] new safe has finally arrived.? I spoke of getting? a safe in my article “Hiring a Domestic Helper in Hong Kong” and true to my word, our safe is now sitting happily in our closet.? This one is great [...]
What a great article! The interview questions are so to-the-point! I’d love to have a copy of your rules too. Thank you in advance.
Thanks for this article! I’m pregnant with my first baby right now and am in the process of hiring my first helper. I found your article very useful. Please send me a copy of your rules. Thanks again.
lisa, your article is really helpful. It is exactly what I need, since I am considering hiring a foreign domestic helper. May I also have a copy of your “rules”? Thank you.
This article is great and very helpful. I would love a copy of your rules. Thank you!
hi! i want to know the rules on how to hire domestic helper, coz i want to process by my self i dont want to go by agency. I hope you can help me regarding this matter. thks
[...] For starters, this article is really meant for people who HAVE helpers. If you’re looking to hire, best check out my earlier post “How to Hire a Domestic Helper in Hong Kong“. [...]
My first google attempt, and WHOOLAH!! Everything I need to know about hiring a helper in Hong Kong! Thank you so much for writing this. I do have a question about hiring someone for Part-time hours, like 12 hours a week. Do you have to sign a contract for this too? Thanks again!
Hi Lisa, I find your artical really helpful. I just hired a local helper and she will be starting in two days. Could you please send me a copy of your rules? Thanks!
Hi Lisa, Thanks for a great article - very helpful. However, you are not correct when you say (under “Costs”) that all helpers with 5 years + service are entitled to a long service payment. By law, a helper is only entitled to a long service payment, if the employee is dismissed [provided that dismissal was not for serious misconduct or by reason of redundancy]; or the contract expires and is not renewed by the employer; or the employee dies; or resigns on ill health grounds; or is over 65 and resigns on grounds of old age. Therefore, the payment is not automatically due after 5 years service. If the helper is offered a new contract upon expiry of a previous contract, and she refuses to accept it, (other than on grounds of ill health or over 65) then, regardless of her long service, she is not entitled to any payment. See Employment Ordinance, Chapter 10.
Hi Lisa,
Your blog is a good read, I’ve been here 4.5yrs and we are about to go down the track of hiring another helper and it’s good to get a refresher on how to interview!! could you send me a copy of your rules, our current helper, who has got a job in Canada, has been really good there didn’t need to be many rules however this time around…….. cheers, thanks again!
Hello Lisa
Has been very interesting reading your blog, I am pregnant at the moment with my first child and have no idea on how to interview helpers. I am in full time work too so its especially important that I find someone I like and trust - and who understands what I need. Your blog has given me lots to think about and clarify -thank you! I would love a copy of your rules if you still have them…
Thanks!
I landed on your website by chance and would like to thank you for sharing with us your experiences. Thanks again.
Hi we are currently looking for our 2nd helper and I am very interested to see your rules and how they can apply for us. Thank you.
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for your informative article! I just sacked our helper after one month and in a bind now. Wish I would’ve came across your article sooner. Can you please send me a copy of your rules? It’ll be of great help!
Hi Lisa, Thanks for sharing your experience! I find your article very helpful. Love to get a copy of your rules. Can you please email to julylee@hotmail.com? Thanks in advance.
Hi
I have been looking for information on domestic helpers and ideas for house rules for a while and this is the best and most informative so far.
I have just hired a helper and she will be starting in a few weeks. Could you please send me a copy of your rules?
Thanks!
Sarah
Hello Lisa,
this is a great article. We just moved with my 3 month old daughter and this is exactly what I was looking for. I would love to get a copy of your rules. I hope that your current helper is working out for you and your family.
Michaela
Hi Lisa,
Very helpful article, thanks a lot!
Would you mind sending me a copy of your rules?
Thank you so much!
Kind regards,
Esther
[...] Assuming you do have a domestic helper and you want to travel outside of the country, this article is for you.? If you don’t have a domestic helper, maybe you can read this first: “How to Hire a Domestic Helper in Hong Kong.” [...]
Would love a copy! Please send! Enjoyed the article, keep up the great work.
[...] is a large expat community that is very supportive and most important of all, I highly recommend employing a domestic helper.? [...]
Please send a copy of your rules to niahbear@hotmail.com. Your interview questions were awesome. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Hi… Great article - I would love a copy of the rules too please! Thanks.
I start interviewing today– with a copy of your questionnaire! Thank you. Can I pls have a copy of the rules.
Sonal
We are currently looking for a FT helper and have found your blog very useful. Have copied your questions and plan to use them when interviewing - they look to be very comprehensive and am feeling much more confident about the interview process with these now to hand. Would also love a copy of your rules to use when we do find a helper who we want to employ. Be fantastic if you could send them. Many thanks.
Hi,
Like your no nosense frank style. Am seriously thinking of a full time DH and commencing interviews, therefore request a copy of your rules please!
Thanks
Thank you for all your words of wisdom. You have certainly made everything much clearer. Can you please send me a copy of your rules?
Thank you,
Yvonne
Thank you very much for the post. It’s very helpful not only to employers, but also to helpers and people like me who have plans in applying as a Domestic helper in Hongkong. Can somebody please help me find a good and fair employer just like Ma’am April? I found her good to her helper and i hope and pray to find an employer like that.N0t necessarily very the same, but one who’ll gonna have a good and fair treatment to me. I am really very interested to work very soon.I’m from the Philippines. Please do shoot me an email at zette_81@yahoo.com.ph . Thank you very much.
Oh! I’m sorry! It’s Ma’am Lisa who posted this article rather than ma’am April. I’m wondering where i got that Ma’am April’s name. Lol.
I would also love to receive a copy of your rules. Thanks for your post; it was quite informative.
hi im marilyn 30 years old i liki to apply domestic helper in any country thank u
I’d love a copy of your rules too - necgrt@yahoo.com.au. I am in the process of trying to find 1-2 helpers for my 6mth old twins. I also have 3 stepchildren so we are a big chaotic household!
Thanks for the excellent interview questions! I’m new to town and this will be very helpful. Can you please send me a list of your rules as well? Thanks in advance.
Hi Lisa,
I’m planning to hire a domestic helper and your article is just awesome! Would I be able to get a copy of your rules? Thanks a mil.
Nice to have all these information on hand before doing the interview with the helper. It will be nice if you could share a copy of your rules for my future use.
Best regards
i’ve been battling with maid issues ever since i landed in hong kong.
just need to know, does a domestic helper, under the law have the right to go out at night for hours?
do i have the right to say, she should stay home
i have a new born and a toddler and my husband is always traveling.
the helper i have goes off from around 8 till about midnight , most nights
tells me her working hours are over and should be free to do and go as she pleases.
is this true? can i get her to stay in and help me at night?
Julie,
Sorry to hear about your DH issues. Technically, when they are off work, they don’t need to be confined to the duties at home. This means that even on their day off, they are entitled to 24 hours rest, so that means they can leave Saturday night at 8 PM and not return until Sunday night at 8 PM - which means they don’t go back to your house, though they are supposed to be living at the sponsor’s address.
In all honesty, I’d get another helper. I don’t mean to say that she’s not sufficient during the day or doing enough, but she’s not meeting your needs. And it’s true, you can’t get her to stay to assist you at night, although most people I know with young children do have helpers that assist at night. Maybe consider implementing a bonus system for your new helper (sounds like it’s a little too late for the existing one). Start with a new helper, set down the rules that this is the way it may work out (helping at night because your husband travels), tell her you’ll implement a bonus system for outstanding work and start fresh.
Truthfully, what does your instinct say? Do you have any seeds of doubt about her ability to meet your needs as an employer? Do you have any doubts about her ability to provide as a domestic helper? If yes to any of those questions, I’d say it’s time for a re-evaluation of your current helper and potential to change.
I’m sorry to hear about your situation. I’ve had my fair share of lazy and minimalistic helpers, so I can sympathize with you. Let me know how else I can help.
Lisa
Thanks for the great tips - very helpful! I’m going through my first experience in hiring a helper and would love to get a copy of your rules. This whole thing is a bit nerve-wracking since I have a new baby at home…
Thanks!
Great tips thx! I am pregnant with my first child and looking to hire a helper for the first time. Your “rules” would indeed be very helpful! Greatly appreciated if you could send me a copy! Just want to get your opinion: should I get a helper say 3 months before my baby is due so that in case things don’t work out with the first helper, I’d still have time to hire another? Thx again for you help!
Your article is really informative and has helped me a lot as a first time employer. It would be wonderful if you could share with me your house rules for the helper. Mine will arrive in the next week or so and I’m desperate to set down some ground rules for her upon her arrival. Also, can I ask is it too late to incorporate some rules into the contract? How can I make these house rules ‘enforceable’? My baby is now 3 mths old and I’m struggling how to arrange the helper’s work schedule between taking care of my baby and household work. Any advice on this? Thanks again!!
Please send me a copy of your Rules.
Thank you.
cc
excellent, perfect timing, can you kindly e-mail me your rules pls. Many thanks…thumbs up!
excellent, perfect timing, can you kindly e-mail me your rules pls. thumbs up! thank you
Please can I have a copy of your rules, too? Just going back into the helper situation (after an exhausting 4 months coping without) after a very bad experience. Thank you.
Can you pls. email a copy of your rules to me, many thanks.
I’m going through my first experience in hiring a helper and sometimes it’s a bit difficult to explain to the helper, a list would definitely help to bridge the gap…
Thanks for the information that you have posted on hiring domestic helpers in HK. I’m hiring a domestic helper soon and would really appreciate if you could share your house rules with me. Thanks in advance!
The information is very helpful and i just tried the interview tips with an overseas maid. (seems they could not understand a complicated question):-)
could you send me the house rule?
thanks a lot
Julie
Hi Lisa, having had a reliable and trustworthy helper for the last 2 years who is retiring back home to the Philippines, the pain of the search begins. I would be very interested in receiving a copy of your rules. Kind regards, Ginger
I would love to have a copy of the rules.
This is a fab post and although helper has been here for a few months - I think I need to start again with her and put down some basic rules.
How did you “train”? her???
Hi Lisa,
Thank you so much for your informative information! It is really helpful. My first helper is coming to work in our house next Monday. Bless us that she is good. I am interested in getting your rules. Could you please email to me? Thank you so much! All the best.
[...] flattered by the amount of inquiries and comments I’m getting on my previous article “How to Hire a Domestic Helper in Hong Kong“.? I’m also glad that I am able to provide assistance where I can in an area where [...]
Hello Miss Tong,
I proudly & highly applaud your article “How to Hire a Domestic Helper in Hong Kong”. We currently have a helper who’s lazy and, in your words, thwarting my authority and I would greatly appreciate it if you could send me a copy of your rules. By the way, those interview questions are impeccable! More power to you Miss Tong! And congratulations on your current helper, good luck with the communication barrier!
Hi. Thanks. Very helpful. We are coming to HK in August and have been offered a friends’ helper once they leave. We’ve had our own mix of positive/negative experiences in other countries. Would love a list of your rules. Again, many thanks.
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