Notice to Employers
Accommodation and Meal Arrangements for Overseas Domestic Workers in Hong Kong
(a) Domestic workers generally come from tropical countries and usually do not have winter clothing and lack daily necessities.
(b) Employers are required to provide free breakfast, lunch and dinner for their domestic workers, or they may choose to pay an additional meal allowance to their domestic workers (not less than HK$1,236 per month. The Government announced on 27 September 2024 that the monthly allowance will remain unchanged at HK$1,236).
(c) The employer must provide free accommodation for the domestic worker. The accommodation location must be the same as specified in the contract ID407.
(d) The domestic worker’s work and location are limited to the scope of domestic work and the address on the contract ID407. Failure to do so is illegal.
Employment Contract for Foreign Domestic Helpers (FDHs)
(a) If the contract is terminated, either the employer or the employee may give the other party one month’s written notice or pay one month’s salary in lieu of notice.
(b) According to the provisions of labor laws, regardless of whether the domestic worker requests termination of the contract or commits serious fault, the employer must pay all outstanding wages and leave compensation, as well as the domestic worker's airfare and travel allowance to return to his or her place of origin.
(c) Within 7 days of the contract termination date, the employer must notify the Immigration Department in writing of the termination. The Termination Notice (ID407E) can be faxed directly to the Immigration Department (fax: 2157 9181).
(d) Under Clause 12 of the Standard Employment Contract for Foreign Domestic Helpers (ID407), both the employer and the domestic worker must give written notice to the Director of Immigration within 7 days of the date of termination of the contract. Whether you are an employer or a domestic worker, you can use this free online service to notify the Immigration Department of the termination of your contract.
If the contract is terminated prematurely, the domestic worker may only remain in Hong Kong for two weeks following the contract's expiration date, or until the expiration of their permitted period of stay, whichever is earlier. If the domestic worker fails to leave Hong Kong after the expiration of their permitted period of stay, they may be subject to criminal prosecution. Those who aid and abet a domestic worker to overstay may also be subject to criminal prosecution.
Foreign domestic workers taking a break
Foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) are entitled to at least one rest day in every seven-day period and may work on their rest days on a voluntary basis. Employers may not force FDHs to work on their rest days.
Paid annual leave for overseas domestic workers in Hong Kong
Every time my sister works for an extra year, her paid annual leave will be increased by one day.
My sister's paid annual leave increases from 7 days in the first year to a maximum of 14 days according to her years of employment.
The following lists the number of days of annual leave that employers are required to grant to foreign domestic workers based on their years of employment:
Number of paid annual leave entitled to years of service
Year 1, 7 days
Year 2, 7 days
Year 3, Day 8
Year 4, Day 9
Year 5, Day 10
Year 6, Day 11
Year 7, Day 12
Year 8, Day 13
Year 9, Day 14
Statutory holidays for overseas domestic workers in Hong Kong
Foreign domestic workers are entitled to statutory holidays and are eligible for holiday pay if they have been employed for at least three months immediately preceding the statutory holiday. Employers may not offer payment in lieu of statutory holiday pay to foreign domestic workers. If a statutory holiday falls on a rest day, the employer must arrange for the foreign domestic worker to take that statutory holiday the following day. If an employer requires a foreign domestic worker to work on a statutory holiday, the employer must arrange an alternative holiday within 60 days before or after the originally scheduled holiday.
1) New Year's Day (January 1st)
(2) Lunar New Year's Day
(3) The second day of the Lunar New Year
(4) The third day of the Lunar New Year
(5) Qingming Festival
(6) Easter Monday *Newly added from 2026
(7) Good Friday *Newly added from 2028
(8) The day following Good Friday *Newly added from 2030
(9) May 1st, Labor Day
(10) Buddha's Birthday
(11) Dragon Boat Festival
(12) July 1st, the anniversary of the return of Hong Kong
(13) The day after Mid-Autumn Festival
(14) Double Ninth Festival
(15) October 1st National Day
(16) Winter or Christmas (employer's choice)
(17) First working day after Christmas *Added from 2024
Long-term service payment for overseas domestic workers in Hong Kong
如外傭在僱傭合約終止前已連續為同一僱主 工作不少於五年,並且符合下列其中一種情況,可享有長期服務金:
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非因嚴重行為不當或裁員而遭解僱或不獲續約;
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因健康理由而辭職;
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因年老(即65歲或以上)而辭職;
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或於在職期間死亡。
長期服務金的計算方法 一個月的工資x 2/3 x 服務年資 未足一年的服務年期則按比例計算。