Hong Kong Domestic Helper Salary, Contract, Food Allowance, and Rights

Direct answer: A Hong Kong family hiring a foreign domestic helper must use the official ID 407 Standard Employment Contract, pay at least the prevailing Minimum Allowable Wage, provide suitable live-in accommodation, and follow Hong Kong employment and immigration rules. For contracts signed from 30 September 2025, the Minimum Allowable Wage is HK$5,100 per month. The family must also provide free food or the contract food allowance, rest days, statutory holidays, and the other entitlements that apply to the helper.

This guide is for families comparing a domestic helper in Hong Kong and for Filipino helpers checking an offer before they accept it. It focuses on the employment terms that should be clear before anyone pays a fee, signs a document, or books a flight.

The salary number to start with

The current Minimum Allowable Wage, or MAW, for a foreign domestic helper is HK$5,100 per month for contracts signed on or after 30 September 2025. The Hong Kong Labour Department says the MAW is the wage protection for foreign domestic helpers and is reviewed by the government. It is not a suggested salary that a family can reduce by agreement. The amount that applies is tied to the date the contract is signed, so check the official figure when starting a new contract or renewal. Read the current Labour Department FAQ.

The MAW is a legal floor, not a complete household budget. A family should price the whole arrangement before interviewing a helper:

| Budget item | What the family should decide | | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Monthly wages | At least the MAW that applies when the contract is signed | | Food | Free food, or the food allowance stated in the contract | | Housing | A suitable place in the employer's residence with reasonable privacy | | Medical care | The contract and Hong Kong rules require employer-provided medical treatment in the applicable circumstances | | Travel | Required passages and related deployment or return costs should be checked before signing | | Rest and leave | Weekly rest days, statutory holidays, and paid annual leave | | Agency or processing costs | Confirm who pays each legitimate fee and obtain receipts |

Do not compare a helper's salary with a part-time cleaner's hourly rate without comparing the job. A live-in domestic helper may handle childcare, cooking, laundry, cleaning, errands, and elder support across a full household routine. Those duties need to be written down rather than hidden behind the word "all-around."

The ID 407 contract

The Standard Employment Contract, ID 407, is the official contract accepted by the Hong Kong Immigration Department for a foreign domestic helper. Another private document can explain household preferences, but it does not replace ID 407 for the immigration application. The Immigration Department describes ID 407 as the only contract acceptable for this purpose, and the normal contract period is two years. Check the contract terms on the Immigration Department website.

Before signing, both sides should read the contract and its Schedule of Accommodation and Domestic Duties. The schedule matters because it turns a vague job title into a description of the actual arrangement. It should make clear:

1. Where the helper will live and sleep.
2. Which members of the household live at the address.
3. What domestic duties the helper will perform.
4. Whether the work includes childcare, elder support, cooking, driving, pets, or care of another person.
5. What food, room, privacy, rest, and leave arrangements apply.

The contract is not a blank cheque for any task a family thinks of later. If the household changes, the family should check whether the change must be reported or approved. Do not add a second job, a second household, or an unpaid side business to the arrangement without checking the official rules.

Live-in work and the address rule

Hong Kong's foreign domestic helper arrangement is normally live-in. The helper should work and reside at the employer's residence stated in the contract. The Immigration Department also requires suitable accommodation with reasonable privacy. A helper should not be treated as a live-out cleaner who returns to a different home every night unless the authorities have confirmed an arrangement that is lawful for the specific case.

For a family, this means the room and sleeping arrangement are part of hiring, not a detail to solve after arrival. Before signing, show the helper where they will sleep and explain who shares the home. If the helper will share a room with a child, another adult, or another worker, say so clearly before the agreement is made. A private room is not always possible in Hong Kong, but reasonable privacy and suitable accommodation still matter.

For a helper, ask for a clear description of the room, the household size, the number and ages of children, whether an elderly person needs care, and whether there are pets. Ask how the family expects the helper to handle rest time and personal belongings. A written answer is better than a promise made in a rushed video call.

Food, wages, and payment records

The employer must provide free food or pay the food allowance in lieu when free food is not provided. The amount should be written in the contract and confirmed against the latest official material. The Labour Department's current helper information lists a food allowance of at least HK$1,236 per month. Because allowances can be reviewed, do not copy an old agency flyer into a new agreement. See the Labour Department's helper rights information.

Wages should be paid in full and on time. The Labour Department says wages should be paid no later than seven days after the end of the wage period. A bank transfer or another traceable payment method gives both sides a record. Keep the payment date, amount, and description. If cash is used, the helper should receive a written acknowledgement.

Avoid deductions that were never explained. A family should not use an informal loan, recruitment cost, damaged item, or disputed expense to quietly reduce the monthly wage. If there is a disagreement, record it and seek help from the Labour Department or another qualified adviser rather than improvising a penalty.

Rest days, holidays, and annual leave

The Labour Department says a foreign domestic helper is entitled to at least one rest day in every period of seven days. A rest day is a continuous period of at least 24 hours. The helper is also entitled to statutory holidays and paid annual leave under the applicable rules. The number of statutory holidays and annual-leave days can change with the law and length of service, so use the current government guidance when preparing the calendar. The employer guide explains these entitlements.

A rest day is not a favour and should not be replaced with a cash payment. Families should agree the usual rest day early, while leaving room to change it lawfully when the helper agrees and the arrangement remains compliant. The helper should be able to leave the residence during the rest day unless there is a genuine safety or legal reason that has been handled through the proper process.

The family should also explain how holidays work in practice. If a child is sick, a grandparent needs help, or a trip is planned, discuss coverage in advance. Do not wait until the evening before a rest day to announce that the helper is expected to work.

What duties are allowed

The helper should perform domestic duties for the employer named in the contract. This normally includes household tasks and the care of members of that household when those duties are described in the agreement. It does not allow the employer to send the helper to work for a neighbour, a second family, a business, or another property.

Driving deserves special care. The Immigration Department's contract guidance states that domestic duties exclude driving a motor vehicle unless prior approval has been given under the relevant contract provision. A family that wants a helper to drive should not assume that a Philippine driver's licence or past driving experience is enough. Check the approval and licensing requirements first.

The job should also respect the helper's skill boundaries. A helper can support a child's routine, but a family should not describe an untrained helper as a nurse. A helper can assist an older adult with agreed daily tasks, but medical treatment, lifting, medication, or emergency response may require a qualified person. Write the limits into the schedule and arrange professional care when the household needs it.

Hiring through an agency

Hong Kong families commonly use employment agencies, but a family should still check what the agency is licensed and authorised to do. A Filipino helper or Philippine-based recruiter also needs a safe Philippine-side verification path. The Migrant Workers Office Hong Kong publishes an accredited Hong Kong agency directory, and the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers publishes licensed Philippine recruitment-agency records. Start with those records instead of relying on a Facebook page, a forwarded number, or a promise that a recruiter is "connected" to the government.

Ask an agency for:

• its full legal name, licence or accreditation details, and office address;
• a written explanation of the service and every fee;
• the employer and helper documents it will submit;
• the expected timeline and what happens if the visa or deployment fails;
• a receipt for every payment;
• the process for complaints, replacement, contract termination, or abuse concerns.

Do not surrender an original passport or identity document for indefinite "safekeeping." Do not pay a fee just to be considered for a job without a written explanation and receipt. A legitimate process should become more transparent as it progresses, not more secretive.

A safer interview checklist

Families should interview for the real household rather than for an imaginary perfect helper. Describe the children, older adults, pets, school schedule, cooking style, apartment size, and expected rest-day arrangement. Ask what the helper has done before, what they do not want to do, and what support they need to work well.

Helpers should interview the family too. Ask:

1. How many people live in the home?
2. What are the exact daily duties?
3. Where will I sleep?
4. Who will supervise my work?
5. What is the salary, food arrangement, rest day, and pay date?
6. Will I be asked to work for another address or person?
7. What happens if there is a disagreement?
8. Who pays the travel, medical, visa, and processing costs?

The answers should match the contract. If the family says one thing in an interview and the agency writes another thing on the documents, stop and resolve the difference before signing.

If the contract ends or something goes wrong

Termination, transfer, and return travel have specific requirements. Both sides should use the official Immigration Department forms and notices, follow the contract, and keep copies of the documents. The Immigration Department says the employer and helper should notify it of termination within seven days using the relevant notification process. Read the official foreign domestic helper requirements.

If wages are withheld, rest days are denied, documents are taken, the helper is threatened, or the family believes there is abuse, treat the issue as a safety and legal problem. Do not solve it by locking someone inside the home, withholding their passport, or threatening immigration consequences. Contact the Hong Kong Labour Department, Immigration Department, the Philippine Migrant Workers Office, or an appropriate support organisation. In an emergency, contact local emergency services.

Families can reduce disputes by keeping the contract, schedule, payment records, rest-day calendar, and written changes together. Helpers can keep copies of the contract, passport details, payment records, agency contacts, and trusted emergency contacts outside the employer's home.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum salary for a domestic helper in Hong Kong?

For an employment contract signed on or after 30 September 2025, the Minimum Allowable Wage for a foreign domestic helper is HK$5,100 per month. The amount applies at the time the contract is signed and should be checked again before a new contract or renewal.

Is the Hong Kong ID 407 contract required?

Yes. The Standard Employment Contract, ID 407, is the official contract accepted by the Hong Kong Immigration Department for employing a foreign domestic helper from abroad. It is normally effective for two years.

How much food allowance must an employer provide?

An employer must provide free food or pay the food allowance specified in the contract when food is not provided. The current Labour Department material lists a food allowance of at least HK$1,236 per month, but families should confirm the current amount before signing.

Can a Hong Kong domestic helper work part-time for another family?

No. The helper may only perform the domestic duties for the employer and at the address stated in the Standard Employment Contract. Working for another person or at another address can breach the contract and immigration conditions.

How should a family hire a Filipino domestic helper safely?

Define the household duties and living arrangement, verify the family and helper documents, use the official contract, check any agency through the relevant Hong Kong and Philippine authorities, and keep written records of pay and agreed terms.

A practical next step for families

Start with the official rules, then write the household brief. Use Helpers' family guides to define the household's needs, review how Helpers approaches identity and reference checks, and browse the Hong Kong market route before sending a request. When the duties, budget, living arrangement, and dates are clear, create a family account and keep the final terms consistent with ID 407.