Guide about Domestic Helper Annual Leave in Hong Kong

Guide about Domestic Helper Annual Leave in Hong Kong

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HelperPlace

16 Aug 2023 | 5 min read

Do you have questions on annual leave for helper? Are you sure to enforce the Employment Ordinance in Hong Kong? What are the differences between Annual leave, Statutory holidays and Rest Days? To assist both employers and employees in better understanding, HelperPlace prepared a brief summary of the most important rights and obligations.

How many Domestic Helper Annual Leave is allowed in Hong Kong?

In Hong Kong, domestic helpers are entitled to the following leave:

  • Statutory holidays (13 days in a year)
  • Paid annual leave (from 7 days to a maximum of 14 days based on the length of service)

What are the differences between Annual leave, Statutory holidays and Rest Days?

1) Statutory holidays

Statutory holidays are mandatory for all domestic helpers.

Hong Kong celebrates 17 national holidays and 12 are statutory holidays. The employment ordinance requires that employers provide employees with a paid day off for all statutory national holidays; employers can require employees to work on the remaining 5 holidays as part of their employment contract in hong kong.

If a domestic helper has been employed continuously by the employer for three months preceding any of the following statutory holidays, the employer must allow his employee to enjoy these days as a paid holiday.

  1. First quarter of the year

    • Chinese New Year (1st day, Lunar Year's day, 2nd day and 3rd day of Lunar year)
  2. Second quarter of the year

    • Ching Ming Festival (beginning of April)
    • First day of May (Labour Day)
    • Tuen Ng Festival (Dragon Boat Festival, beginning of June)
  3. Third quarter of the year

    • The first day of July (Hong Kong Establishment Day)
    • The day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
  4. Last quarter of the year

    • The first day of October (National Day)
    • Chung Yeung Festival (beginning of October)
    • Winter Solstice Festival or Christmas day (at the discretion of your family)

It is not allowed to make any form of payment in lieu of granting statutory holidays. However, an employer can require to his helper to work during one of these statutory days. If the employee accepts this request, the employer must offer a compensation day.

2) Annual leave for Helper from 7 to 14 days

If a domestic helper is covered under the Hong Kong Employment Ordinance and has worked for at least 12 months with the same employer, the employee is entitled to 7 days of annual leave.

Annual leave for Helper depends on how many years of service a domestic helper has with an employer. The year of service begins from the day you start work with your employer. An employee will get 1 additional annual day per year from the 3rd year until 9th year and above.

  • 1 year of service --> 7 days
  • 2 Years of service --> 7 days
  • 3 years of service --> 8 days
  • 4 years of service --> 9 days
  • ...
  • 9 years and above --> 14 days

An employee has a right to take annual leave, subject to the right of his employer to schedule the time at which annual leave may be taken (the employer must confirm at least 2 weeks in advance).

3) Rest days

An employee who is working under a domestic helper contract is entitled to not less than 1 rest day in every period of 7 days. The employer is required to allow each employee breaks of either a continuous period of 24 hours every week.

An employer must clearly notify to his employee which day will be the rest day. In Hong Kong, the rest day is often Saturday, Sunday or Monday. Except, if an employer get the agreement of his helper, it's not allowed to require to work during a rest day. If an employer get exceptionally the consent of his domestic, he needs to compensate this day within the same month.

Thanks to this brief summary, you know the main obligations between an employer and his helper. If you require more information, don't hesitate to contact the following department:

More information are also available on HelperPlace.