What is the minimum domestic helper salary in Hong Kong?

Minimum domestic helper salary in Hong Kong

The government has announced that for all domestic helper employment contracts signed on or after 30 September 2023, the minimum domestic helper salary is HK$4,870 per month. On top of the domestic helper salary, employers of domestic helpers should also provide a food allowance of HK$1,236 per month or provide food free of charge.

This is the current minimum domestic helper salary in Hong Kong, employers of domestic helpers must pay the required amount at least. From our experience, employers may have to provide a higher domestic helper salary to hire and retain a more experienced worker.

When should the domestic helper salary and food allowance be paid?

The domestic helper salary should be paid monthly, within 7 days of the end of the wage period. If you are providing a food allowance, we recommend this to be paid at the start of the month.

We strongly recommend paying the domestic helper salary by bank transfer so both the employer and the worker will have a record. In some cases, workers may not have a bank account and/or prefer being paid the domestic helper salary in cash. If this is the case, both the employer and worker should sign a receipt every month and retain the copies as proof of the domestic helper salary.

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A sample domestic helper salary receipt can be found in the Hong Kong Labour Department’s Practical Guide for Employment of Foreign Domestic Helpers. You can also refer to the requirements for bank accounts in Hong Kong by Enrich.