Finding Helpers

Learn how to find and hire the perfect domestic helper through our platform

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Information about our subscription plans, payments, and refunds

Visa Processing

Details about visa applications, processing times, and requirements

When hiring a domestic helper from the Philippines, the necessity of using an agency depends on the specific circumstances of the helper being employed.

First-time, terminated or broken contracts

To hire a domestic helper from the Philippines, the Filipino government mandates using an agency if:

  • It's their first time in Hong Kong
  • They're outside Hong Kong
  • They've been terminated or are breaking their contract

Some exceptions may allow processing without an agency.

Finished contracts or special cases

You can process a visa without an agency for a domestic helper in the following cases:

  • Finishing their contract
  • Released due to employer's death
  • Employer's relocation
  • Financial hardship
  • Any abuse or exploitation

Employers can consult the Hong Kong Immigration Department for specific requirements and procedures when hiring domestic workers. Key documents for submission include:

Essential Documents
  • Standard Employment Contract
  • Domestic Helper's Visa/Extension of Stay Application Form (ID988A)
  • Employer's Application for Employment of Domestic Helper from Abroad (ID988B)

Additional documents may be required by the domestic helper's consulate.

Documents Required from the Employer

As an employer, you'll need photocopies of:

  • HKID or Passport (for non-permanent residents), including the most recent activated visa
  • Proof of residential address (utility bills issued within 3 months)
  • Proof of financial position (tax notices, salary slips, or bank statements)
  • Letter of release/ID407E form for a replaced domestic helper (if applicable)
  • Explanation letter for hiring additional helpers (if applicable)

For documents under another person's name, provide proof of relationship (e.g., marriage or birth certificate). For helpers performing driving duties, you'll need the vehicle registration, valid motor license, and justification letter.

Documents Required from the Domestic Helper

Domestic helpers must submit photocopies of:

  • Hong Kong ID
  • Passport's front page (recommended 2 years validity)
  • Most recent Hong Kong employment visa
  • Complete employment contract (all pages)
  • Letter of release/ID407E form from their previous employer

For first-time workers in Hong Kong, an agency is required for visa processing, with additional documents as advised by the agency.

No, it is not acceptable for employers to set curfews for domestic helpers.

Hong Kong law grants helpers a full 24-hour rest period, and imposing restrictions like a curfew violates their rights.

Alternative Approaches:
  • If you're concerned about late returns disturbing the household, discuss and agree on a solution together
  • If late nights affect work performance, address it as a work-related issue

No, it is illegal for domestic helpers to live outside their employer's home.

Employers must provide "suitable accommodation" within their residence, as required by Clause 3 of the Standard Employment Contract (ID407).

Legal Consequences

If a domestic helper is caught living out:

  • Employers face fines up to HK$150,000
  • Possible imprisonment
  • Loss of hiring rights

Helpers risk:

  • Imprisonment
  • Deportation
  • Permanent work ban in Hong Kong
What is 'suitable accommodation'?

Suitable accommodation ensures reasonable privacy for domestic helpers:

  • Cannot share a room with a teenager or an adult of the opposite sex
  • May share with a child or have a partitioned space
  • Must include a bed, bedding, wardrobe, light
  • Must have free access to water, toilet, and bathing facilities

Note: A separate room is not required, but Hong Kong law mandates providing 'suitable accommodation' within your home.

Divide the interview into five parts, focusing on questions that help determine if the candidate's personality aligns well with your family.

1. Situational Questions

Assess problem-solving and personality. Ask scenarios like:

  • How they'd handle accidents
  • Disagreements with children
  • Unplanned visitors
2. Work Experience

Discuss their:

  • Past roles
  • Management style
  • Task scheduling
  • Cooking experience
  • Conflict resolution
3. Your Schedule

Outline:

  • Weekly tasks
  • Rest days
  • Annual leave preferences
4. Key Topics

Cover:

  • Salary
  • Food arrangements
  • House rules
5. Applicant's Questions

Allow time for them to ask questions, ensuring they feel comfortable with your family dynamic.

Yes, employers must provide free medical and emergency dental treatment for domestic helpers, regardless of whether the issue is work-related.

However, this does not apply if the helper leaves Hong Kong for personal reasons, such as visiting home.

What is included in "free medical treatment"?

Free medical treatment covers:

  • Consultations
  • Hospital care
  • Emergency dental care

Employers are advised to get insurance with full medical and hospitalization coverage.

Dental Treatment Options

Employers must cover emergency dental treatment but may assist with regular care. Options include:

  • Government Dental Clinics
  • ADMedLink
  • Sassy Mama
  • Quality HealthCare
  • Domestic Workers Corner resources

Daily Tasks
  • Make beds
  • Do laundry
  • Clean bathrooms
  • Wash dishes
  • Sanitize kitchen
  • Mop floors
  • Take out trash
  • Sweep
  • Tidy up
Weekly Schedule
  • Monday: Clean children's room
  • Tuesday: Clean study room
  • Wednesday: Tidy kitchen (windows, fridge, recycling)
  • Thursday: Clean walls and surfaces
  • Friday: Master bedroom, air purifier, dehumidifier, laundry, mop floors
  • Saturday: Household checks and repairs
  • Sunday: Rest day
Monthly Tasks
  • 1st Thursday: Clean air conditioners and water boiler
  • 1st Friday: Wash bedding and bath mats
  • 1st Saturday: Condition leather sofa and clean irons
Special Tasks
  • Seasonal clothing storage
  • Deep closet cleaning
  • Laundry of larger items as needed

Feel free to adjust to your household needs!

Yes, domestic helpers are entitled to statutory holidays from the start of employment.

Employers aren't legally required to pay for these holidays until after 3 months, though many choose to do so for convenience and better relationships.

Important Notes About Statutory Holidays
  • You can ask a helper to work on a statutory holiday, but must provide an alternative day off within 60 days
  • At least 48 hours' notice must be given (more notice is advised)
  • Cannot compensate with extra pay instead of granting a holiday off
  • If a statutory holiday falls on a rest day, the following non-holiday day becomes the statutory holiday
  • If a statutory holiday or rest day overlaps with annual leave, an additional day off must be provided

Home leave, or vacation leave, is mandated by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, requiring domestic helpers to return to their home country for at least 7 days per employment contract to reconnect with their families.

When Does Home Leave Apply?

Home leave applies to domestic helpers with locally processed visas in Hong Kong, including:

  • Contract renewals with the same employer
  • Finished contracts when changing employers
  • Special case processing for employer changes
Home Leave Options

The Hong Kong Immigration Department offers two home leave options:

1. Immediate Home Leave
  • A temporary visa is issued
  • Helper must leave Hong Kong within 7 days
  • Must stay away for at least 7 days
  • Upon return, a 2-year visa is granted
2. Deferred Home Leave
  • A 1-year visa is issued
  • Helper must complete home leave within the year
  • After completing at least 7 days of home leave, the remaining visa period is granted
Important Considerations
  • Home leave is distinct from annual leave
  • Can be combined with annual leave if both parties agree
  • Can be either paid or unpaid based on mutual agreement
  • For contract renewals, employers must specify under clause 13 of the Standard Employment Contract whether the home leave will be compensated

Yes, employers are required to cover two flight tickets for a domestic helper per employment contract.
Required Flight Coverage
  • One from the helper's place of origin to Hong Kong
  • One from Hong Kong back to their place of origin
  • Domestic travel by the most direct route
  • A food and travel allowance of HK$100 per travel day

These expenses typically range from HK$2,000 to HK$5,000, depending on the location.

Special Cases
  • If the helper's visa is processed locally in Hong Kong, the previous employer must provide a ticket for their return
  • The new employer is responsible for the ticket bringing the helper back to Hong Kong
  • Cannot fulfill home leave requirement by exiting to Macau
  • Travel for personal holidays is not the employer's responsibility
Contract Termination Considerations

If home leave is unfulfilled before contract termination, the employer must provide:

  • Flight tickets and local transportation to the helper's place of origin
  • $100 per travel day as food and travel allowance
  • Wages in lieu of paid home leave (as per clause 13 of the Standard Employment Contract)

Employers and domestic helpers can terminate contracts with one month's notice or a month's salary in lieu. Notice must be submitted to Immigration within seven days.

Termination Steps
  1. Inform your agency for guidance
  2. Understand legal obligations via the Labour Department or Labour Relations Division
  3. Provide a written notice with notice and last working dates
  4. Prepare required documents:
    • Notice Letter
    • Immigration Termination Form (ID407E)
    • Entitlement Receipt
    • Optional Reference Letter
  5. Settle termination entitlements like wages and allowances
  6. Submit the Termination Form (ID407E) to Immigration within seven days
Required Documentation for Agency

After termination, provide the following documents to your agency:

  • Termination or Resignation Notice Letter
  • Entitlement Calculation & Signed Receipt
  • HK Immigration Termination Form (ID407e)
  • Return flight ticket

Proper management ensures compliance and professionalism. Reach out to your agency for support.

ESY.HK is a trusted matching website and licensed employment agency designed to assist you in hiring domestic helpers. Through our online platform, you can not only find a suitable helper but also have their visa application processed with ease.

How It Works:
Create an Account

Sign up on the ESY.HK platform to get started.

Select a Subscription Plan

After signing up, choose a subscription plan from your account dashboard. Details of available plans can be found above.

Connect and Interview Helpers

Once payment is made, enjoy unlimited access to contact and interview domestic helpers within the timeframe of your subscription.

Visa Application Assistance

When you've found the ideal domestic helper, you can opt for our visa processing package (available exclusively for Filipino helpers).

For more detailed instructions, check out our user guides. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. We're here to help!

Once you've successfully signed up, log into your account and click the "Upgrade to Premium" button (the orange box) on your dashboard. From there, select the plan that best suits your needs.

After completing your payment, your subscription will be activated for the chosen plan. This allows you to directly contact, chat with, and schedule interviews with domestic helpers through our platform.

Keep in mind that your subscription will automatically renew.

If you no longer require the service or have already found a helper via our platform, you can cancel your subscription anytime. Simply go to the "Premium" section of your account, select "Options," and click "Cancel Renewals."

In general, visa applications for domestic helpers already residing in Hong Kong tend to be processed more quickly.

  • Finished contracts and contract renewals typically take around 2 weeks to process.
  • Terminated contracts, whether initiated by the employer or the helper, take approximately 6 weeks, provided the helper is authorized by the Immigration Department to remain in Hong Kong.
  • If the helper needs to return to the Philippines to activate her new visa, processing times can be extended to around 2 months.

For helpers who are not currently in Hong Kong, you can opt for an "Overseas Visa," which requires around 3 months to complete the application process.

Absolutely!

We would be delighted to assist you with processing your helper's visa application, even if she wasn't hired through our platform.

With over 10 years of agency experience in Hong Kong, ESY.HK successfully secures approval for workers' visa applications in most cases.

However, if a worker's visa application is unsuccessful, we offer complimentary 3-month access to the ESY.HK platform, allowing you to find a replacement through our services.

Overseas Visa

If the worker is unable to begin employment in Hong Kong due to circumstances such as death, medical failure, pre-arrival disappearance, or visa rejection by Hong Kong Immigration, you, as the legal employer, will be entitled to a 40% refund under our Agency Protection Policy.

If the application is withdrawn by you, the legal employer, a 25% refund will be issued according to the Agency Protection Policy. Please note that there is no guarantee period after deployment, and ESY.HK Ethical Service does not provide free replacements.

Local Hire & Contract Renewal

For cancellations by the employer after contract preparation and documentation, a 75% refund will be provided.

If an employer's application is declined by the relevant authorities, a 70% refund will be issued.

You may contact us via:
WhatsApp
+852 8482 3247
Email
docs@esy.hk
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