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| Question 1: | How long does it take to apply for Foreign Domestic Helper? | | Answer1: | Under normal circumstances, application period will take 2-3 months, however the period will be adjust depending on the process of Immigration Department. | | <Question> |
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| Question 2: | What documents shall I provide for application of a helper? | | Answer2: | Copy of the Hong Kong ID Card, Income Proof, Residential Address Proof, Name and ID Card number of the family members residing at the same residence. | | <Question> |
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| Question 3: | Are the information, introduction video and interview appraisal from the agency accurate? | | Answer3: | Employment Agencies normally sent their staff to Indonesia or Philippines to interview the helpers directly. During the interview, the staff will observe the helper's attitude and communication skills to give appropriate appraisals. | | <Question> |
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| Question 4: | How much do I need to spend to hire a Helper? | | Answer4: | The Agency Fees varies from the services they provided; please refer to the Employment Agencies directly for accurate price and services. | | <Question> |
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| Question 5: | What is the capability for an employer to hire a helper? | | Answer5: | According to the Employment Ordinance, the employer must have a household income of HK$178,000 per annually to hire one foreign domestic helper. | | <Question> |
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| Question 6: | Can I hire a helper on behalf of my parents? What documents shall I provide? | | Answer6: | Yes, you must provide the residential address of your parents and proof of relationship (such as birth certificate). | | <Question> |
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| Question 7: | What are the Rights and Obligations shall the Employer bear to the Helper? | | Answer7: | The Foreign Domestic Helper Ordinance and the Employment Contract (Form ID407) have stated the rights and obligations of both Employer and Helper. | | <Question> |
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| Question 8: | Can I hire a local finished contract maid without going thru an employment agency? | | Answer8: | It is advisable to hire helpers through an accredited license agency in Hong Kong, you may simply just provide them the information of the helper and necessary documents for application and the agency will follow the procedures of the Immigration and Consulate to process. | | <Question> |
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| Question 9: | Is it necessary for the helper to return to the originated country before issuance of a new employme | | Answer9: | Yes, the Labour Department will only issue new visa if the Helper has return to the originated country. | | <Question> |
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| Question 10: | What are the procedures and the payment incurred to renew a helper? | | Answer10: | The payment incurred by agencies differ from HK$1,xxx to HK$6,xxx, the renewal payment will be accordance to the agreement between employer and the helper, some may partake the payment. | | <Question> |
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| Question 11: | Can I renew my helper through another Employment Agency? | | Answer11: | Yes you may, you are required to provide the helper's information and her passport copy to the employment agency you have chosen. | | <Question> |
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| Question 12: | My helper has not worked for one year, is she entitle for the Paid Annual Leave? | | Answer12: | According to the Employment Ordinance, the helper is entitled to 7 day annual leave after one year of service with the same employer, if your helper has not yet completed one-year period, you may decide through the situation/reason the helper provided to get annual leave. | | <Question> |
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| Question 13: | How many Paid Sick Leave Days per month the helper is entitled to? | | Answer13: | The helper is entitled for 2-day paid sick leave per month, within the first 12 months of service with the same employer. There will be 4 days for the afterwards for every month of service. | | <Question> |
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| Question 14: | Can an employer get the refund of the Retraining Levy, if the helper was terminated within the Emplo | | Answer14: | No, The remaining levy can be brought forward to the new helper. | | <Question> |
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| Question 15: | Do I have to pick-up my maid from the airport upon the helper's arrival in Hong Kong? | | Answer15: | Normally Employment Agencies will provide the service of airport pick-up and arrange a medical check upon arrival of the helper. | | <Question> |
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| Question 16: | Can I request my helper to work at my parent's home? | | Answer16: | No, It is an offence to ask the helper to work at another person's resident, if convicted; both employer and helper will be subject to a penalty charge and imprisonment. | | <Question> |
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| Question 17: | When shall I pay my helper of her wages/Salary? | | Answer17: | The helper must be paid of her wages/salary at least once a month, starting from the date of her employment. | | <Question> |
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| Question 18: | How many days of rest day the helper is entitled to? | | Answer18: | According to the Employment Ordinance, the helper has the right to at least one day rest day per 7 days, 12 days of labour holiday and 7-day paid annual leave. | | <Question> |
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| Question 19: | When will the helper be entitled to the Long Service Payment? | | Answer19: | If the helper has been in serviced with the same employer for more than 5 years. | | <Question> |
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| Question 20: | Is it my responsibility to pay for the helper's medical fees? | | Answer20: | Yes, it is the employer's responsibility for the helper's medical fees during her service. | | <Question> |
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| Question 21: | Can the helper terminate her employment contract before the contract ends? | | Answer21: | Yes, both employers and helpers must have a one month written notice or one month in lieu payment if to terminate the contract before the 2-year period. | | <Question> |
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| Question 22: | During the 14 day leave of the helper, does it include Sundays and public holidays? | | Answer22: | No, the 14 day leave shall not include Sundays and Labour Holidays | | <Question> |
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| Question 23: | Is it necessary for the employer to pay the Minimum Allowable Wage? | | Answer23: | Yes, the employer shall pay the helper not less than HK$3320.00, it is violation of the law to underpay the helper and will be subject to imprisonment and penalty if convicted. | | <Question> |
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| Question 24: | Can I apply for an additional helper? | | Answer24: | Yes, you are however required to provide a reason for the additional helper and must provide a income proof that you are capable of hiring another helper to the Immigration Department. | | <Question> |
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| Question 25: | What are the processes I need to go through to renew my current maid? | | Answer25: | You may proceed with the procedure of renewing a helper one month before the current employment contract ends. You may submit the necessary forms to the Immigration department in person or through an Employment Agency Representative. | | <Question> |
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| Question 26: | What is the HK$9,600 I am required to pay to the government? | | Answer26: | Starting from October 1, 2003, Hong Kong Government required the employer to pay an Employees Retraining Levy of HK$9,600.00. | | <Question> |
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| Question 27: | Must I pay the Retraining Levy of HK$9,600.00 in a one-off payment method? | | Answer27: | No, it is allowed that the payment to be paid in 4 installments with HK$2,400 per quarter (in two year). After issuance of the working visa, the employer is required to pay the first installment. | | <Question> |
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| Question 28: | I just renewed the employment contract with my current maid, but after renewal, i found out that she has loan money from the financial company and have an over-due payment. I was afraid that the helper would escape during her annual leave, so I have asked to signed an agreement that if she did not clear the loan payment before her annual leave, she must resign. Is the signed agreement valid and effective? What other things I shall be careful with? | | Answer28: | The employer does not have the right to control the helper to get a loan or to ask her to resign. It is suggested that you contact the Financial Company to clearly state that the helper will take full responsibility of the loan payment and inform them that the helper will be out of town for a certain period. Normally financial companies will not convey the loan amount to the employer. | | <Question> |
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