GENERAL INFO ABOUT WORKING IN HONG KONG

What can I expect when working in Hong Kong? 

You have legal rights in Hong Kong. Please click here to see “Legal Advice and Rights”.

 What insurance should my employer provide?

Your employer needs to provide Employee Compensation Insurance. This provides insurance in case of accidents while you are working. Employers who do not provide insurance can suffer serious penalties. If you want to know more about what your employer should provide, please click here.

Employee Compensation Insurance does not cover health insurance. Employers must provide free medical treatment which includes medical consultations, hospital and emergency dental treatment. Please click here for more details. 

Employment Agency information

Do I need to use an employment agency?

No. In Hong Kong, you’re not required to get a job through employment agencies. 

But your home government(s) may have such requirements. You can check with your consulate in Hong Kong if you have any questions. Click here for consulate contact information. 

How can I tell if an agency is good?  

First, you should check if the agency holds a valid licence before using its service. You can check this online at the Labour Department employment agency website (Chinese / English only).

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Your employment agency cannot charge you any money for the job placement other than the allowed commission (which is currently set at 10% of your first-month salary after successful placement). To protect yourself, you should ask for a receipt from the agency after you have paid the commission.

If you think you are being overcharged by an employment agency you should report to the Employment Agency Administration as soon as possible. You can find them at Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon or call them at +852 2115 3667 or email them at ea-ee@labour.gov.hk. Their website is www.eaa.labour.gov.hk.

If you want more information to understand your rights, you can read the Code of Practice for Employment Agencies here.

Here are some useful articles:

https://www.fairagency.org/.../covid-how-long-does-it.../
https://www.helperchoice.com/c/domestic-helper/agency
https://www.helperplace.com/blog/best-maid-agency-hong-kong

 Flights/Transport 

Your employer must cover the travel expenses for one round trip from your home to Hong Kong. This includes:

• 1 One way flight from your home country to Hong Kong when you start the contract. 

• 1 one-way flight from Hong Kong to your home country when the contract is over. 

• Any domestic travel by the most direct route from and to your place of origin to the international airport for your flight to Hong Kong.

• A food and travel allowance of HK$100 per day (refer to employment contract clause 7b).