Insurance before day one
Employees’ compensation cover is mandatory — don’t start without it.
VerifiedChecklists for Hong Kong helper employers
HK Helper Desk is a free directory and newsletter of copyable employer checklists — insurance, contracts, renewals, agency red flags — labelled with public sources. Not legal advice.
New employer? Start here
Do these three first — then browse the rest.
- Insurance before day one — employees’ compensation must be in force before work starts.
- Agency fee red-flag list — licence check and written fees before you pay.
- No probation — what you can do today — there is no SEC trial period; plan from day one.
The problem we solve
Hiring or renewing a foreign domestic helper comes with real legal duties. Agency sales talk and forum threads leave gaps. HK Helper Desk is checklist-first: find → do → newsletter → feedback → repeat.
Featured checklists
Agency fee red-flag list
Licence check, written fees, no wage-deduction traps.
VerifiedRest day & holiday plain-English map
Rest days, statutory holidays, annual leave — don’t mix them up.
VerifiedContract finish, renewal & notice
End of 2-year SEC: notice, renew vs new hire, repatriation, final pay.
VerifiedMAW & unpaid wages red flags
Current Minimum Allowable Wage, payment deadlines, illegal deductions.
VerifiedLive-in accommodation & privacy
SEC free accommodation, privacy, food, CCTV limits.
VerifiedMedical / clinic visit — who pays
SEC free medical duty vs EC insurance — employer map.
VerifiedWhen to call Labour Dept vs ImmD vs police
LD vs ImmD vs 999 — employer decision tree.
VerifiedAnnual renewal calendar (employer FDH year)
Year-at-a-glance: insurance, MAW, leave, SEC renew, ID 407G.
LikelyNo probation — what you can do today
No SEC trial period; Clause 10 from day one; what employers can do now.
VerifiedImmD household income eligibility (HK$15,000)
Per-helper income / assets rule; ID 988B; when proof is needed.
VerifiedWhat employers must not ask the helper to pay
No agency/loan wage clawbacks; food, room, medical, return ticket stay with you.
VerifiedSEC contract basics for employers
ID 407 starter map — live-in, duties, wages, food, medical, notice.
VerifiedTyphoon, Black Rainstorm & extreme conditions
Agree T8 / Black / extreme-conditions arrangements; safety first; no leave or wage clawbacks.
VerifiedNewsletter
Short employer tips when a checklist ships. Free. Unsubscribe anytime.