Long Service Payment for Helper in Hong Kong

Are you terminating the services of your domestic helper? Do you need to know about severance and long service payment? You are at the right place!

What is the Long Service Payment for Helpers in Hong Kong?

Long Service Payment for Helpers in Hong Kong is a statutory benefit provided under the Employment Ordinance. It is designed to reward employees for their long-term commitment and loyalty to their employers.

When do you need to pay?

• Your domestic helper is entitled to long service payment if he/she has worked for you for at least 5 years before termination, and you do not renew the contract for reasons other than misconduct and redundancy.
• If your domestic helper resigns due to his/her ill health, you must pay for his/her long service.
• Another circumstance where your helper is entitled for long service payment is his/her old age (65 years and over)
• If your helper dies during service

What is an Employment Contract?

When you are hiring a foreign domestic helper, you ought to know about the standard employment contract. The contract clearly states the terms and conditions you need to abide by when you are looking to hire a foreign domestic helper in Hong Kong. This is the document that is recognized by the Special Administrative Region of the Hong Kong Government. If you are an employer, and your contract is done after September 28th 2024, you are required to pay a minimum allowable wage of HK$ 4,990/month. You must also provide a rest day for the domestic helper once in 7 days.

How to Terminate the Contract?

Either party can terminate the contract, provided one month's notice is given. You may be required to terminate the contract under genuine reasons. Some of the reasons may be:

• You might be relocating to a different country
• Your domestic helper might not get along well with your family
• You may be facing financial difficulties
• Your domestic helper may not conduct himself/herself well
• Lack of trust

The government has taken care to ensure that the employed domestic workers are respected and not ill-treated. You are not supposed to terminate their services under these important conditions:

• If he/she is on a paid sick leave
• She is pregnant
• She belongs to a trade Union
• She/he is wounded

Termination of contract is a serious issue, and you have to handle it responsibly. You have to make sure that your domestic helper returns to his/her home country. Moreover, if you have terminated the services of domestic helpers very frequently, you may be blacklisted by the Consulate. So before you think of terminating your domestic helper's services, give it a second thought. Try to sort the issue through open dialogue.

How to Process Termination of a Domestic Helper

You need to follow a certain procedure if you are looking to terminate the employment contract prematurely.

1. Create a Termination Letter

If dialogues don't work and you have made up your mind to terminate the services of your domestic helper, the first thing you need to do is inform him/her through a letter. Make 3 original copies - one for yourself, one for the domestic helper, and the other one for the Department of Immigration. Make sure you let your domestic helper aware of your decision one month in advance. This helps him/her find a new job as prematurely terminated domestic helpers, as required by law, need to quit Hong Kong within 2 weeks of their termination.

2. Inform Immigration Department

As per law, you need to write to the immigration department. Submit an original copy and clearly state the date and reason for your decision. The immigration department has an online platform through which you can inform them or you can download ID407E form, fill it and then submit by post or fax. You can also submit it in person.

3. Settle your Dues

You need to settle any dues with your domestic helper before actually you part ways.

What is Severance Payment?

Severance pay It is the amount, as an employer, you need to pay your domestic helper for premature termination of the employment contract. This has been made mandatory by law to protect the interests of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong. You need to give severance payment to your domestic helper if he/she has at least served/worked for you for 24 months. Your helper is also entitled to severance payment if you dismiss or do not renew the contract, due to redundancy.

How to Calculate Severance Payment and Long Service in Hong Kong

Calculation is wages per month *2/3* duration of service in years. An incomplete service year is computed based on pro-rata. An employer is not required to pay both long service payment and severance payment to foreign domestic helpers. As an employer, what do you need to pay for the last payment?

• Current month's salary and outstanding salaries, if any
• Payment in lieu of unclaimed leave (usually, it is a 2 week paid leave annually)
• One month's salary if you have terminated the services without any prior notice
• Food allowance of at least 1,236HK$ per month
• As per the law, you, as a Hong Kong employer, must repatriate your domestic helper. Get a ticket.
• Travel allowance at 100 HK$/day (Usually one day)
• Severance/ Long service payment

What Help to Offered after Termination?

If you want to help your domestic helper in Hong Kong after termination of services on genuine grounds, you can help him/her find a new job. Give recommendation, word-of-mouth goes a long way for them in finding a new employer quickly. You can also post facebook ads. Do not go for heated arguments with your domestic helper. Follow the procedure laid down by the law and stay safe!