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Guidebook for the Employment of Domestic Helpers from Abroad

Employers of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) are not required to pay Employees Retraining levy (the levy) if the visas for the helpers are granted by the Immigration Department between 1 August 2008 and 31 July 2013.

For existing contracts with outstanding levy, employers have to settle the payment in the usual manner according to the schedule as specified by the Director of Immigration in the Payment Note (ID971). If the contract is subsequently terminated prematurely with unused levy balance, the balance shall not be refunded or carried forward to the time after the suspension ends.

Between 1 August 2008 and 31 July 2010, advanced contract renewal is allowed. That is, the employer and the FDH can enter into a new employment contract regardless of the existing contract has yet to run its 2-year full course. Under this advanced contract renewal arrangement, helpers are not required to leave Hong Kong after the termination of the existing contract. The application procedures are the same as those of normal contract renewal cases except that proof of the employer's financial position is waived. The employer shall also sign a written statement in the form of an undertaking by the employer to the FDH confirming the effective date of termination of the existing contract and the intention to enter or the entering into a new contract with the FDH after such termination on the basis that the FDH will be taken as continuing in the employment by the employer at all times (SF/IM/1607). Application for advanced contract renewal may be submitted within 4 weeks prior to or within 14 days after the termination of the existing contract. For more information on Advanced Contract Renewal, you may read Application for Advanced Contract Renewal for Employment of Foreign Domestic Helpers (English version) [SF/IM/1606(E)].

Under the existing immigration policy, FDHs are permitted to remain in Hong Kong up to the permitted limit of stay or 2 weeks from the date of termination of contract, whichever is earlier. If they want to start a new contract with another employer, they have to leave Hong Kong before submitting the visa application.