Many Filipinos aspire to become migrant workers because of the many perks and benefits they get from working abroad. And while there are Filipinos in every corner of the world, there are those places that have larger Filipino communities such as the Middle East, Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
If you plan on working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong, here are some benefits you can get as a resident of the country and as an important contributor to Hong Kong’s economy.
Disclaimer: The information published is based on the experience shared by the vlogger/YouTuber. The information provided may change without prior notice and may differ in actual scenarios. Let this article serve as a guide only.
Here is the video guide shared by a Filipina domestic helper in Hong Kong, Jean, a.k.a. Pinay Nanny Vlogger in Hong Kong on YouTube. If you find her tips helpful, you may check out her YouTube channel to catch more interesting content about her work and life as an OFW in Hong Kong.
Here are the 10 Benefits You Get as a Domestic Worker in Hong Kong
Aside from the obvious, which is getting employed, what do you think are the other benefits of a domestic helper working in Hong Kong? We list the top 10 benefits as explained by our resource vlogger, Jean, a.k.a. the Pinay Nanny Vlogger in Hong Kong.
1. Salary
Of course, work comes with pay and in Hong Kong, a foreign domestic helper (FDH) is entitled to a minimum allowable wage (MAW) of HKD 4,630 every month.
2. Food Allowance
Domestic helpers in Hong Kong are also entitled to receive a monthly food allowance of HKD 1,121, to be paid by the employer separately. Alternatively, if the employer does not want to pay the amount in cash, they must provide free food to the helper. This means that the helper will cook his or her food with the ingredients supplied by the employer.
3. Weekly Rest Day
Here in Hong Kong, domestic helpers should get at least one rest day for a continuous period of at least 24 hours every 7 days. Also, you should know that your rest day does not have to be a fixed day in the week, and the employer should inform you of your schedule before the beginning of every month. Typically, domestic helpers take their day off on a Sunday that’s why you can see plenty of them outside if you go out on a Sunday.
4. Statutory Holidays
Domestic helpers are entitled to have 12 statutory holidays here in Hong Kong. Statutory holidays are different from general holidays, and the former is mandatory for employers to grant their workers.
Moreover, statutory holidays are must be paid unless the worker has only been employed for less than 3 months.
If you are requested to work on a statutory holiday, you must be informed at least 48 hours before the holiday and get an alternative day off for the consumed holiday 60 days before or after the statutory holiday.
5. Free Medical Assistance
According to the Labour Department’s Standard Employment Contract guidelines, employers must provide free medical treatment and emergency dental treatment for domestic helpers. This means that whether the injuries or sickness are related to work or not, the employer needs to shoulder the domestic worker’s check-up and treatment.
6. Repatriation of the Domestic Helper’s Remains in Case of Death
In the case of death, it is the domestic helper’s employers who must shoulder the repatriation expenses for their employee’s remains through the help of the Philippine Embassy in Hong Kong.
7. Free Airfare
As specified in the Standard Employment Contract guidelines, once an applicant gets hired through an agency from their home country, their employer will shoulder all the expenses they need to pay to travel overseas. The same rule also applies once the domestic helper’s contract has been terminated, was broken, or was no longer renewed.
8. Paid Annual Leaves
The number of your paid annual leaves depends on how long you’ve worked for your employer in Hong Kong. A domestic helper is entitled to a paid annual leave after every 12 months with the same employer. During the first two years, the number of holidays is 7, after which one more day is added, with the maximum days capped at 14.
This means that on your first two years of employment as a domestic helper here in Hong Kong, you get to have seven days of paid leave, then increasing by one more day starting on the third year, and so on until it reaches 14 days (maximum).
9. Free Accommodation
In addition to the free airfare, domestic helpers in Hong Kong are also provided free accommodation as they will be living in their employer’s residence. This is inclusive of their water and electricity consumption. And in case the domestic helper is granted a live-out arrangement, their employer should cover the payment of their rent, water, and electricity consumption, as well.
10. Severance Pay and Long-Service Fee
The Severance Pay is the amount that the employer needs to pay the 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.
Domestic workers who have worked for at least two years for an employer are entitled to receive a severance payment. The worker is also entitled to this payment if they were dismissed or their contract has not been renewed, due to redundancy.
Moreover, a domestic helper is also 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.
Other cases where a domestic helper can claim their long service payment:
- If the domestic helper resigns due to his/her ill health.
- If the domestic helper has reached 65 years or higher.
- If the domestic helper dies during service.
If you wish to learn more about the benefits, rights, and privileges of domestic helpers in Hong Kong, be sure to read the standard employment contract that you will need to sign before you work in Hong Kong.
You may also reach out to the staff at the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong if you have questions and concerns regarding your work arrangements and rights as a domestic helper in Hong Kong, but before you reach out to the Philippine Embassy, be sure to contact your employment agency first for assistance because they are still responsible for your safety and welfare at least during the first two years of your employment in Hong Kong.
Have you experienced working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong? What are other special perks or benefits that you enjoyed during your work abroad? Let us know by leaving a comment in the section below!
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