Hiring a Domestic Helper in Hong Kong — 2026 Handbook

A practical reference for expat and local families in Hong Kong employing a foreign domestic helper. Updated for 2026, this handbook covers the rules that matter day-to-day — salary, food, rest days, contracts — and explains how to set up a smooth meal-planning routine from week one.

Key Points

Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) is reviewed annually by the Hong Kong Government
Helpers are entitled to one rest day every 7 days plus statutory holidays
Food allowance must be paid monthly if food is not provided
All helpers work under the Standard Employment Contract (ID 407), 2-year terms
Live-in accommodation must be suitable and provide reasonable privacy
A shared weekly meal plan can make cooking and shopping expectations clearer

How much does it cost to hire a domestic helper in Hong Kong in 2026?

For contracts signed on or after 30 September 2025, the Minimum Allowable Wage is HK$5,100 per month. If the employer does not provide free food, the current minimum food allowance is HK$1,236 per month. Employers must also arrange employees’ compensation insurance, provide free medical treatment and accommodation, and cover the travel required by the Standard Employment Contract. Agency charges, if an agency is used, vary. Check the Labour Department’s current rates before signing, as they can change.

What are a Hong Kong helper's statutory rights in 2026?

Every foreign domestic helper is entitled to one rest day every 7 days, all statutory holidays, paid annual leave (7–14 days depending on years of service), free medical treatment, free accommodation and food (or food allowance), and a return air ticket at the end of the contract. These rights are non-negotiable and written into the Standard Employment Contract.

Do I have to provide food or pay a food allowance?

The employer must provide free food or pay a food allowance of at least the prevailing government rate. The current minimum allowance is HK$1,236 per month. Check the Labour Department’s current rate when signing a new contract.

Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW)

The Minimum Allowable Wage is HK$5,100 per month for Standard Employment Contracts signed on or after 30 September 2025. The government reviews this rate, so check the current figure before signing a new contract. The agreed wage must not be below the rate applicable to that contract.

Employers must also take out employees’ compensation insurance and provide free medical treatment under the Standard Employment Contract. Separate medical insurance is worth considering, but it is not the insurance the law specifically requires.

Food Allowance vs Provided Food

Employers must provide free food or pay at least the government’s prevailing monthly food allowance. The current minimum is HK$1,236 per month. Agree on the arrangement clearly with your helper and check the current rate when signing a new contract.

Free accommodation at the employer’s contractual address is also required. It must be suitable and provide reasonable privacy; a separate bedroom is not an absolute legal requirement.

Statutory Holidays and Rest Days

Helpers are entitled to:

At least one rest day of 24 continuous hours in every seven-day period
All 15 Hong Kong statutory holidays in 2026
Paid annual leave after each 12 months of service, starting at 7 days and rising to a maximum of 14 days
Sick leave and sickness allowance when the statutory conditions are met

A statutory holiday cannot be replaced with payment. If it falls on a rest day, the employer must grant a holiday on the following day that is not itself a statutory holiday, alternative holiday, substituted holiday, or rest day. Different rules apply when a helper is required to work on a statutory holiday.

The Standard Employment Contract (ID 407)

Foreign domestic helpers are employed under ID 407, the Standard Employment Contract. It provides for a two-year term, work and residence at the employer’s contractual address, free passage to Hong Kong and return passage on completion or termination, and free medical treatment during employment. Either party may normally end the contract with one month’s written notice or one month’s wages in lieu.

Use the current contract and guidance from the Immigration Department before signing.

Meal Planning From Week One

A written weekly meal plan can help the family and helper agree on meals, recipes, and shopping before the week begins. Ask which dishes the helper already knows and discuss any dietary needs or changes together.

Mealside lets families share plans and recipes across supported languages, so everyone can refer to the same instructions.

Where to look — agencies, referrals, and finishing contracts

Employers can recruit through a licensed employment agency or directly through an advertisement or personal referral. Hong Kong does not require an agency, although a helper’s country of origin may have its own requirements.

If using an agency, check its licence in the Labour Department’s Employment Agencies Portal. Ask for a written service agreement showing the services, itemised fees, refund terms, and replacement arrangements. A Hong Kong agency may charge a job-seeker no more than 10% of their first month’s wages after successful placement.

Interview questions worth asking

Ask practical questions about the duties and arrangements you expect, and give the candidate room to ask questions too.

Cooking and meals:

What dishes do you cook most often at home?
Have you cooked for children? What ages?
Are you comfortable following a written weekly meal plan?
How do you handle a recipe you have not made before?

Language and communication:

Which language do you prefer for recipes and shopping lists?
What is the easiest way to discuss questions during the day?

Living arrangements:

Are you comfortable with the accommodation and live-in arrangement we are offering?
Do you have allergies or dietary restrictions we should know about?

Work history:

Why did your previous contract end?
May we speak to your previous employer?

A free printable interview checklist is available at /mealside-helper-interview-checklist.pdf.

Onboarding the first two weeks

In the first few days, walk through the home, explain the household schedule, show where supplies are kept, and discuss rest days, food, and communication preferences.

During the first week, write a meal plan together. Start with dishes the helper knows, discuss the family’s preferences, and agree on a shopping routine and budget. Review the plan together after a week or two and adjust it to what works for both sides.

FAQs

Can I hire a helper directly without an agency in Hong Kong?

Yes. Hong Kong does not require employers to use an agency, though the helper’s country of origin may have its own requirements. You still need the Standard Employment Contract and an employment visa. Check with the relevant consulate if you are unsure about origin-country rules.

What language do most Hong Kong helpers speak?

Many foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong come from the Philippines or Indonesia, but language preferences vary by person. Ask your helper which language they prefer for recipes and daily instructions rather than assuming.

How long does the hiring process take?

The Immigration Department says a helper employment application normally takes about four to six weeks after it receives all necessary documents. Recruitment, contract preparation, consulate requirements, and travel can add time, so allow for more than the visa-processing period.

Is there a probation period?

The Standard Employment Contract does not set a separate probation period. Either party may normally terminate it with one month’s written notice or one month’s wages in lieu.

Official sources

Rates and employment rules checked on 16 September 2026. Confirm the current guidance before signing a contract.