What are the ‘permitted work activities’ under a domestic helper visa?
What are the permitted work activities for domestic helpers?
Under Hong Kong law, those holding a foreign domestic helper visa can only be employed for one specified household at one specified address. Furthermore, according to the Standard Employment Contract, domestic helpers can only be employed to perform duties that fall under the categories of:
- Household chores
- Cooking
- Babysitting
- Child-minding
- Caring for elderly persons within the household
Any other work that is not incidental to and arising from these tasks for the specified household is not permitted.
Are domestic helpers allowed to do part-time work?
It is not legal for a migrant domestic helper to take up additional part-time work in another household, even if they are given permission to do so by their legal employer. This rule also includes situations where both properties belong to the legal employer. Allowing for illegal part-time work carries the risk of heavy fines and imprisonment for both the domestic helper and the employer.
How can I hire a domestic helper for part-time work?
Local domestic helpers are not on a domestic helper visa and are therefore permitted to work part-time. Hiring a part-time domestic helper in Hong Kong can be done through direct hiring or a specialised agency. Read more about part-time hiring here.
Last updated on December 7th, 2023
