If this is your first time working in Hong Kong, you might wonder what cost should be beared by your Employer and what cost should be paid by you.
This is a guideline about expected cost in order to work in Hong Kong. Even for workers who are already in Hong Kong, this article will help you as we’ve found that many helpers are being charged unreasonably for different sorts of ways.
Documentation Fees – Fees To Be Beared by the Employer
According to the Hong Kong Standard Employment Contract, the employers are responsible for expenses incurred by the helper in preparation of documents for taking up employment with the employer. Taking the case of a helper from the Philippines as an example, this includes Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) fee, Mandatory insurance, Medical examination fees, Notarization fee by the Philippines Consulate General in Hong Kong, Visa fee by the Immigration Department and Air Fare from your place of Origin to Hong Kong.
In many cases, you (as an helper) would have paid such documentation expenses during the application process. Remember to keep the receipts, and your Employer shall reimburse you once you produce the receipts to them after arriving Hong Kong. There are some cases that the agency has charged these documentation costs in the Agency Fees to the Employer. In this case, the Agency shall pay these costs on your behalf.
Agency/ Placement Fees – Misconduct to charge any Agency Fees
If you’re currently in Hong Kong, you’re protected under the Employment Agency Regulations. The maximum commission employment agencies in Hong Kong are permitted to charge you as a job applicant is an amount not exceeding 10% of your first month’s wages. This may only be collected by the agency after you have been successfully placed and you have received your first month’s wages. So if your monthly salary is $4,310, a Hong Kong agency must not charge you more than $431 for finding you an employer. If an agency charges you more than that amount, then that agency is breaking the law.
If you’re currently in the Philippines, you’re protected under the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) guideline. Employment agencies in the Philippines are not permitted to charge placement fees to overseas workers bound for Hong Kong. If an agency is asking you for Agency/ placement fees, he/ she is breaking the law. However, it is observed that many agencies charge an agency/ placement fee of up to 150,000 Pesos to helpers to come to HK. Through connecting to an Employer via helperfamily.com, you have the absolute option to choose an ethical agency to process your paper. If the agency chosen by your Employer is charging you an unreasonable Agency fee, you should inform your Employer immediately to change Agency.
Training Fees – Fee to be beared by Helpers
Despite the fact that the Agency is not allowed to charge any Agency Fees to helpers in the Philippines, the Agency is allowed to charge Helpers for Training, Medical examination, photo, video and other necessary miscellaneous expenses. A fair amount of Training fees should be around 3,000 – 5,000 peso only. However, due to the poor regulations of training centers, the training fees can be charged as high as 4,000 to 40,000 peso.
Through connecting to an Employer via helperfamily.com, you have the absolute option to choose an ethical agency who connects to an ethical Training Center. If the agency chosen by your Employer is charging you an unreasonable Training fee, you should inform your Employer immediately to change Agency.
Contact us at Helper Center if you need help recommending an ethical and reliable agency.
Read more: How to Avoid Unethical Agency and unreasonable Agency Fees?
Read more: Do helpers need to go through training in the Philippines before working in Hong Kong?
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