Domestic Helper Levy Cancelled?

Posted by Peggie Wong (53 days ago)

Just heard the news that the government has cancelled the levy for DH.

Any comment?

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Posted by ldsllvn (52 days ago)

cant imagine - they have just banked my cheque for one quite happily - guess they would have not if they did?

Posted by GreenValleys (52 days ago)

Peggie,
Where did you hear that?

Posted by omaharrison (52 days ago)

It is going to start from September and will be for two years.

Posted by evildeeds (52 days ago)

It was on the news last night, part of bow ties package of help for the HK community.........

Posted by Peggie Wong (52 days ago)

exactly as omaharrison has written - starts from September for 2 years.

Posted by dannyg (52 days ago)

So what happens if I am renewing in August. Tell her not to come back until Sept.?

Posted by 788 (52 days ago)

How is canceling the levy helping the "poorer sections of the community"? If it benefited the helper community that would be one thing but reimbursing the employers to fight inflation seems strange. Am I missing something?

Posted by axptguy38 (52 days ago)

What about already paid levies? Will these be paid back?

Posted by axptguy38 (52 days ago)

"How is canceling the levy helping the "poorer sections of the community"? If it benefited the helper community that would be one thing but reimbursing the employers to fight inflation seems strange. Am I missing something?"

When they introduced the levy they lowered the minimum wage so that the total cost to the employer would be the same. I'm guessing they won't raise the minimum wage now. So I will agree that it doesn't really help the "poorer sections" except indirectly through possible greater spending.

Posted by omaharrison (52 days ago)

If employers had to pay minimum of $3,480+$400 each month, which is $3880, now they will have to pay only $3,480, which gives them the extra $400 allowing them to combat the inflation on better terms.
How FDH's are affected by the inflation in HK? Or am I missing something?

Posted by 788 (52 days ago)

Oh yes, I forgot that the FDH don't spend a cent in HK therefore, they must not be affected by inflation.

Posted by omaharrison (52 days ago)

788-Would you care to give an example on what they have to buy if food and trasportation and bills are payed by employer?

Posted by alexismith (52 days ago)

They are going to cansel the LEVY and add 100 for the FDH salary...

Posted by ldsllvn (52 days ago)

same question as the axptguy - what about already paid levy? willl they refund?

Posted by ldsllvn (52 days ago)

cant find anything on immigration web or online generally - has anyone seen it anywhere in papers? Elsewhere?

also - raises a tricky question - do we need to increase our helpers salary now? We have always paid considerably more than min salary ($6,000 one and $4,700 another) - so what do i do? they will know that now I am not paying their tax and I am sure expect some sort of increase?

Posted by Moppet (52 days ago)

deleted

Posted by GreenValleys (52 days ago)

Unless the change (as yet unconfirmed?) is introduced retrospectively - which I doubt as not many laws are - then it will more than likely be a matter of good luck to some and bad luck to others. Same as when the levy was introduced 5 years ago - I don't recall many employers complaining saying they had only recently signed a contract and didn't have to pay the levy.

Posted by omaharrison (52 days ago)

Most helpers eat with the families, I am talking about chinese employers.
I didn't say that they are not allowed to to buy other items, but when times are tough one tends to buy what he needs rather than what he wants.

Posted by Sarah99 (52 days ago)

According to a rasio discussion I heard this morning - there needs to be an amendment on legislation for the levy relief so all details are a little vague now but it seems the intention is that the levy relief will only be for new contracts. Existing contracts levy's will still remain due.

The government measures are meant to help with relief against inflation...HK is not the only place with inflation. I would hazard a guess that a large proprtion of all FDH wages are sent back to their homelands which are also having inflationary problems. For instance a sack of rise has gone from 800pesos to 1700peros in the last 6 months alone.....this means families "back home" will be putting even more presuure on their relatives to send more money, thereby reducing the money left in the pocket here even further. Even if they stick to the bare essentials (what a great quality of life!) then yes inflation is definitely an impac!

Posted by ldsllvn (52 days ago)

so the whole thing is not confirmed at all yet? I.e. storm in a teacup?

Posted by MayC (52 days ago)

The cancellation of the levy WILL help us. We're barely making it from month to month. An extra HK$400 is a godsent!

So if you look at a typical local family, say our family (although I'm not local, just on a local salary ;-)), both parents have to work. We cannot live on one person's salary so staying home is not an option for me. We have no choice but to hire a helper to help us out. The increasing costs of school fees, textbooks and lots of other things is quite a burden for us. Getting an extra HK$400 REALLY helps pay for all the increases... eg. my daughter's school fees going up by HK$100, her books, management fees, a definite increase in salary for new helper's contract for me next Jan etc.

Posted by Momoftwo (51 days ago)

I don't see any difference. We paid $ 2400 in one lump sum ( I prefer this way, so I don't have to remember every 4 months).

So, with a 2 year contract, $ 2400 less to the government, but $ 100 raised in salary minimum for FDH, so that's $ 2400 for 1 contract extra.
Don't see the difference for the employer except don't have to write that cheque for Levy anymore, the money goes directly to the helper.

In my opinion I rather the DH gets it rather than the gov't.

Posted by cara (51 days ago)

actually, you pay $2400 every four months or $9600 for a 2 year contract...

Posted by evildeeds (51 days ago)

Certainly $9600 as cara has mentioned. $2400 are just the installments..........so if you haven't paid you need to get your legs moving quick!

Posted by ldsllvn (51 days ago)

isnt it $2,400 every six months rather than four months??

Posted by Momoftwo (51 days ago)

Sorry, shouldn't be calculating at 3:00am, that's right, I paid $ 9600. That's a bit of savings I realize... it's 10:00am... much better at math ! HAHA! Sorry!

Posted by omaharrison (51 days ago)

LOL, people get confused here very easily.
2,400 is a payment covering 6 months of levy but is being paid every 4 months.

Posted by Christian_Moore (51 days ago)

Why is the 6 months levy paid every 4 months ?, that makes no sense. The immigration website says 4 X $2,400.

Another point, if for example you are about to hire a maid and likely have her starting in August, if you pay the first $2,400, will you need to pay the remaining 3 still. According to the Standard this morning, if your contract starts before Sep1st, you need to pay the whole $9,600 still ??

Posted by evildeeds (51 days ago)

Christian Moore - it's every six months. And looking at the Standard this morning it seems it only applies to new contracts. So there seems to be a situation developing where people are now terminating their helpers so that they can hire afresh in September and others are waiting until September so there will be quite a few helpers heading back home soon. Sir Bow Tie really has no clue about how the HK mindset works at all!

Posted by Christian_Moore (51 days ago)

Another question. If I hired a helper whose current contract is expiring this week and I completed the contract to start from Sept 1st but send her to do the paper work next week, will immigration let her stay in HK for the whole of August ?

I am not one to nitpick over a few hundred extra bucks, but I would rather pass that $9,600 onto the maid over 2 years rather than a government that already has too much money and no idea of how to use it wisely.

Posted by evildeeds (51 days ago)

If here contract expires this week she will be allowed to stay for 14 days. To stay longer she will need to apply for an extension of stay. This is usually another 14 days which doesn't quite get you to Sept 1st. Maybe a few weeks home for the maid would work more in your favour

Posted by Momoftwo (51 days ago)

I am not understanding 6 months thing either.
It's $ 2400 every 4 months. $ 4800 a year. $ 9600 two years. Is that right ? ( checking my math again?)

But point is, I rather pass the money to the DH's salary than to the gov't!!!!!
I don't pay my DH minimum, but if the min is going to hiked up quite a bit, I like to increase her salary so it is NOT at the minimum.

Posted by evildeeds (51 days ago)

Yes $2400 every six months which is 4 x $2400 = $9600.

If it was $2400 every 4 months then it would be 6 x $2400 = $14400.

Posted by Momoftwo (51 days ago)

$ 2400 every 6 months? ( I am sorry I pay it in lump sum $ 9600 each time) .Just curious... if installments, it is every 6 months then? All together in one contract, you pay 4 times?

Posted by evildeeds (51 days ago)

Yes, once at beginning of contract and then on 6th, 12th and 18th month.

Posted by xmauix (51 days ago)

hahaha, I also got confused with the $2400 x 4 levy ;)

Posted by dp (51 days ago)

btw, our helper is due to get her visa issued today. the immigration dept rang to tell us that if we want to postpone issuance of the visa until sep 9th, we would not have to pay the levy. our family situation means we can't wait that long and we don't want her working illegally for us in the meantime so we will be paying the levy to get the visa today. but for those who don't need the visa issued right away, I guess sep 9th is not too far away and you'll save 9K+.

Posted by isonoawabi (50 days ago)

If you can do without full time help in the meantime, why not? $9,600 is a substantial sum, whether you pocket it or whether you pass it on to your helper. In the latter case, it is a huge sum and can make a lot of difference to your helper's family.

If I do not have a young child and work full time, I will (if my helper will agree to it) give one month notice to end her current contract with me and then re-employ her immediately when the current contract ends. She will have to go back to the Philippines to await ID's issue of a work visa and that wait is going to be six weeks at least. The timing will just be perfect. I would rather give the levy to her than to the government. Terminating a helper just to pocket the levy is morally objectionable, but if you re-employ her, it is another matter. I am opposed to paying the levy. I think it should be scrapped for good. It was introduced in order to subsidise government funding for training and re-training the local workforce (whatever that means). If the government wants to do a charitable act, I see no reason why she should not look to her own coffers instead of ripping off FDHs. I was without full time help for two months earlier this year. Not wanting to break the law by employing illegal part-time helpers, I tried to recruit a local one through the re-training program and the labour department. I offered their recommended hourly rate (not their recommended package rate for full time work, 8 hours a day being considered full time, and it was before the Lunar New Year and their hourly rate had been horrendous) for 8 hours a day x five days a week and no local person would take up the offer because, I was told, the hours were too long and they would rather scrub kitchens and floors than watch over a six-year-old and cook two meals daily for him. It was very frustrating. These local helpers are one of the groups to benefit from the levy. Why should employers of FHDs help them at the expense of FDHs, who are hard-working, reliable and who give their full time attention to their employers and take care of their employer's family? The levy should be scrapped for good from now on, not just for new contracts but for existing contracts as well. Hope the Government will act sensibly.

Posted by omaharrison (49 days ago)

Let me get this straight. If we have a helper already, we will still have to pay the levy which is due in about 4 months? and the one after?

Posted by Peggie Wong (49 days ago)

From my understanding (I sure hope I am right), if we sign a new or if we re-new a 2-year contract for a DH within the period beginning September 2008 to September (or maybe end of August) 2009, (sorry - it should be 2010, not 2009)the $9600 levy is waived for that particular contract (one time only until further notice). Therefore I am afraid you still have to pay levy periodically until the end of your existing contract expires.

Actually this is what I can figure & make out of it by listening to the interviews and some debates broadcast on the TV. Apologize if I got it wrong. Just trying to help.

Posted by Peggie Wong (49 days ago)

omaharrison,

On second thought, there's another way you will be sure about this new system and that is in 4 months' time when the levy is due for your existing contract, you go and pay and they tell you it's not necessary....then my above answer is wrong!

Quite frustrating!

Posted by GreenValleys (48 days ago)

omaharrison,
If you bear in mind that the 6-monthly payments of $2400 are delayed instalments of the amount that was payable at the start of the contract then the logic of them still being payable to the end of the contract becomes more logical.

Posted by disco babe (48 days ago)

Some people are saying it's effective from the 1st August and some on the 1st September.... I can seem to find the information on the website.

Can anyone clairfy for sure or is this just speculation?

Posted by omaharrison (48 days ago)

Greenvalleys, true it does make sense. What doesn't make sense is the government coming forward with declerations like "we will help you all.....bla bla bla yada yada yada" but in esence they will waive only those getting the visa starting September onwards, cause a mass of employers delaying their contracts and getting lots of FDH's being sent home and a lot of employers who will terminate contracts with their FDH's so they could hire a new one and save $9600, at least the government gave us 2 months notice about this helping hand so we could give our FDH 1 month notice and have another month to wait until the new one comes and then we won't have to pay the levy.

Posted by danna (47 days ago)

I think if the govt really wud like to help middle class employers- a fair decision is to cancel the entire levy by August or September. It would be unfair if they retract like September then August because there will always be ppl complaining what abt those contracts submitted July, June and so on and so forth.

I renewed my dh contract last June so my payment of levy is up to Dec 08 (1st installment). So I would feel the help of the govt to me if they will reimburse my levy for September to December 08.

I think one legislator feel that this is what the govt should have DONE.

Posted by GreenValleys (47 days ago)

Are you therefore saying that those employers who signed new contracts just before the levy was introduced mid-2003 should have been presented with a pro rata bill for the period from the implementation date to the end of the contract? Of course you aren't. Same logic applies.

Posted by cd (46 days ago)

I hadn't heard about this until I read this yesterday. We are currently changing helpers, our DH's contract expires on Aug 1st. We had a call from immigration yesterday to say our new helpers visa was ready for collection, and that we had to send in a cheque for $2,400 for 1st installment for the levy, and if we pay that then it means we agree to pay the whole 2 years worth. He than asked if we agreed to that as they would defer the visa until sept 1st if we wanted to wait. I told them it wasn't an option as I have a severely disabled son who I cannot physically lift or take out the house on my own. So I told him I didn't agree with it but didn't have a choice. I wouldn't mind paying the 1st installment but it seems unfair that we have to pay the full 2 years for the sake of 4 weeks. Does anyone know if we got an extension for our current helper for a month if we would still then have to pay it?

Posted by GreenValleys (46 days ago)

There's no legal provision for a short-term extension of a DH contract. The term is 2y and no variation.

Posted by Peggie Wong (46 days ago)

My friend's DH has been working for her for 20 years and had just re-newed their 11th contract. She paid the levy yesterday for the full contract and was told the levy for their 12th would be waived. What a long wait!

Posted by cd (46 days ago)

You can get an extension on a contract, I think its for up to a month.
Just not sure if we would have to pay an xtra months levy, although that would still be cheaper than 2 years worth.

Posted by kittycat2 (46 days ago)

According to yesterday's SCMP it has been brought forward to 1st Aug, so if visa is approved from then onwards then no need to pay.

I paid 2 weeks ago...

Posted by souffleQueen (46 days ago)

Just some thoughts to ponder.

It reached to my knowledge that a relative by a member of my group who was hired two months ago was given a months notice. The crappy pat is that, she was asked if she is willing to pay half of the remaining levy that has yet to be paid, they will not fire her. Otherwise, they'll find someone in Sept.


Another one, her employer backed out and will just wait until later to skip the levy.

The sad thing is that, both girls are indebted up to their neck for agency , medical fees, etc.

Posted by cd (45 days ago)

Could anyone clarify what the SCMP said yesterday, as we've had an e-mail from immigration this morning saying its sept 1st, although with a decision still pending whether to move it to aug 1st.

Posted by WWcC (44 days ago)

Immigration told me yesterday its from 1 August. The DH agency told me today that its confirmed 1 August as I am waiting for my helper to come and they (both agency and Immigration) advised not to pick up visa until 1 August and my levy will be waived.

Anyone seen this confirmed by news or newspapers?

Posted by Peggie Wong (43 days ago)

Yes, it's confirmed starting from August.

Posted by Miggy (41 days ago)

The case officer handling my application for a new helper informed me that my helper's visa is ready for pick-up. But gave me the advice to just wait a few more days before I ask the agency to pick it up to avoid the levy. I told her that I still have several outstanding installments (my former helper renewed her 3rd contract with me in October 2007 and resigned 7 months later June 2008). I have only paid 2 installments so far. She said I should finish the remainder of 2008 (to cover 1st year of the old contract) then I would not have to pay for the rest (new contract).

Posted by GreenValleys (41 days ago)

That makes sense seeing that the levy is payable as a lump sum at the outset but you are given the option to pay in instalments. The old contract was obviously effected before the new rule came into effect so the levy should be paid in full. Makes a nonsense out of the suggestion that you should consider terminating your existing helper and re-hiring her after 1 Aug (or 1 Sept as was believed when this discussion started).

Posted by cd (39 days ago)

Still can't find clarification that the date has changed to Aug 1st. Can anyone point me in the right direction. Can't get through to immogration by phone, and they haven't replied to e-mail, and the FAQ website hasn't been updated.

Posted by Miggy (39 days ago)

I have not seen it in the papers (that it was moved to August 1). It was the immigrations case officer who told me to wait a few days before I have the approved visa picked up. I asked her if I heard "days" right instead of "weeks" because I badly need my new helper (I work full time and travel a lot) to look after my 4 year old son. She reiterated "a few days".

Posted by jhalmz (38 days ago)

hello everyone! i found this link on the net regarding about LEVY..hope this will answer to your questions..CheeRS!

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200807/30/P200807300304.htm

Posted by cd (37 days ago)

Thanks, immigration pnoed us yesterday to confirm the date was now Aug 1st. Great now I only have to be without a helper for 1 week instead of 5.

Posted by Hayzee (36 days ago)

We are going to terminate our 2 existing contracts and renew them in order to enjoy the $0 Levy for the next 2 years (keeping the same Helpers of course!). When we explained this to both our Helpers, they thought that we were going to pass on our savings to them! (They had obviously heard and read about all this levy cancellation news). And when we explained that it was for the Employers benefit to combat inflation etc, they acted upset and surprised that we were not automatically passing on the levy money to them!

We struggle to make ends meet here and this is a huge saving for us. We have to put 3 little kids in school and this tax break is a huge relief for us.

Did anybody elses Helper expect the money to go to them?

Just wanted to see how many Employers will be actually passing the levy saving onto their Helper.

Posted by Miggy (36 days ago)

Employers save on the levy and helpers' minimum salary increases by HK$100.

Posted by spurs (36 days ago)

Yes, we'll be passing all the savings onto our helper. While it would be a great saving for us and would help our with school fees etc, it is a HUGE amount for our helper. But of course, all families are in different positions and you need to do what feels right for both of you.

Posted by hkwatcher (36 days ago)

Hayzee
If you terminate your helper, don't you have to give them a air ticket home?
Plus either one month's noitce or one month's wages instead of notice?
Then back again to HK? What will you do for a DH during the 8 weeks they are not in your employ? I would be careful to not rush into anything that make your life a misry. I think you should be careful to crunch the numbers with regard to saving $ and also having your children cared for.
I think the HKGov. will in the end change this again when thousands of people are terminated and re hired it will make a huge back log of work for the IMD.

Posted by kittycat2 (36 days ago)

My helper sort of thought it would go to the helper (but just from lots of gossip she had heard about the levy being cancelled and salaries going up) - we told her, no, not really, but she knew it was irrelevant anyway as we renewed last month. We will get a second helper this month (planned already) and so my savings will be split between the two. In effect, this is about the same as them getting the $100 pay rise, as both contracts were signed before the most recent pay rise. In the end, I'm no better off, and both helpers get the pay rise they thought they'd missed out on. No big deal for anyone, but better than the money being wasted by the government.

Posted by Singh is King (35 days ago)

We already pay our helper 15% more than the minimum. However, we have decided to pass on 50% benefit after deducting the costs associated with termination/renewal of the contract.

Posted by Hayzee (35 days ago)

We already pay around 30% higher than the minimum, so I didn't think it was necessary to pass on saving or increase salary.

Posted by kittycat2 (35 days ago)

Sorry - back to the nuts and bolts of the policy change - my helper's visa was approved (the letter was dated) 31st July, but there is a note saying I had better not collect it for a couple of weeks because of the backlog of applications. The note also says to bring along the 1st installment of the levy. I don't need to pay it, do I, if I won't go and collect it until later this month?

Posted by Singh is King (34 days ago)

The levy cancellation is effective for all contracts signed 1st Sep onwards. So you might need to cancel this contract right now i.e. give notice in August and resign your helper after 30 days to take advantage of the levy rule.

Suggest you check with the immigration department directly

Posted by cd (34 days ago)

The levy was changed to Aug 1st. Our new helpers visa was ready about 24th July, we held off picking it up till Auig 1st when we knew for definate the levy date changed, so no levy charge. And you wouldn't have to resign your helper, you have 3 months from when the visa is issued to collect it, we were told originally that if we didn't want to pay the levy we could hold off picking it up till Sept 1st. Luckily they then brought the date forward.

Posted by I am nuts (34 days ago)

Would it be possible if I will terminate my helpers contract and sign it back again after two weeks??? reason: I want to enjoy the free levy and want to save money since our income is not that much.

Posted by GreenValleys (33 days ago)

Nuts,
Suggest you read the report at the end of that link given by 'jhalmz' 5 days ago. You'll find all the answers there.

Posted by I am nuts (33 days ago)

government really unfair on this matter.Why its not apllied to all contract new and existing? What about the middle class family like us? we hire helper because we really need and our family income is just enough for surviving in our everyday needs.We just renew ppur helpers contract on May and we may terminate her soon and hire a new one again in this way we could save $$ for two years.

Posted by kittycat2 (33 days ago)

You are nuts, yes. What an INCREDIBLY SELFISH attitude. Your income is just enough? What about your helper? If my employer did this to me, I would spread the word around the area and hope that he or she was never able to get another helper.

Posted by I am nuts (33 days ago)

For rich people like you kitty Im sure this is just nothing but for a family like mine its a big deal for us.Call me selfish, sure I am not alone who will do this way.We may terminate our helper and hire her again.I heard one of my friend friends will do the same and will send thier helper to Macau to wait for the new visa.How i wished the government will consider to waive the levy even those existing contract.

Posted by kittycat2 (33 days ago)

Well then that's fine. But you did say 'hire a new one'...

It is not 'nothing' - I would love the extra money too, but it is ILLEGAL. You are exploiting another human being. That is WRONG. How do you define middle-class? If it's the government definition then you earn more than us. And we pay the legal rate.

Posted by danna (33 days ago)

Be very careful abt doing the firing and *re-hiring* of a same helper, I don't think the immigration is acceptable of this.

Posted by GreenValleys (33 days ago)

The reason why the change is made for new contracts only is clearly eplained in that document.

Posted by danna (33 days ago)

I think nuts plan is allowed by the immigration. I just visited the Immigration website and found that it is an option.
http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/faq_fdh.htm#9

see advanced contract renewal

Posted by omaharrison (33 days ago)

We just spoke to the agent that helped us hire our DH. It's as follow:
You terminate the contract and get all papers of termination signed and you make sure you pay the air fare insted of sending her out, then you go to immigration and rehire her. she has to leave HK-even a day trip to macau will be enough.
Then she gets only one year visa which will be renewed automatically upon leaving HK again at the end of that year-another trip to Macau.
If you already paid the first payment of 2400 then just I would suggest wait one month before the second payment and then do it.
Note that once you hire her again the minimum pay on new contract is 3580 (100 extra per month). Our agent said she would do the whole thing for us for 1000 so you could ask yours and see what they say (saves you and DH taking a day off and wasting it at immigration)
Basically if you do the same thing before July 2010 you will enjoy another set of levy waived. That's the loophole many people in HK complain about (G-D knows why).
But, since so many things change constantly concerning this issue I would suggest that since you just renewed, wait just before the next payment to see what the "new" policy is.
Again, call your agent and ask, they might do it all for you for a bit of money that will still make you save few good thousands.

Posted by hkwatcher (33 days ago)

Here is my question
If you are one year through a 2 year contract, you fire and re hire your DH, won't you then have to ask the DH if they want to work for you another 2 years? What if they don't?
Is this really fair?
There is a process at the Phill Consulate that is about $300 to validate the contract before it goes to the IMD.
This is a mess....

Posted by DA (31 days ago)

why the fire and re-hire talk - the govt has a 2 year waiver, so therefore sometime during the next two years, contracted existing helpers will have their contracts renewed and therefore see the employee not pay the levy.

Posted by evildeeds (31 days ago)

Because if you terminate and re-hire now (or the time the existing levy payments are due to expire) and then terminate and renew again some people will be able to save nearly 4 years levy payments. Yep it's a crazy situation alright, mind you it was only a matter of time before old bow tie dropped himself the poop and showed us all what he's really made of..........

Posted by axptguy38 (31 days ago)

"why the fire and re-hire talk - the govt has a 2 year waiver, so therefore sometime during the next two years, contracted existing helpers will have their contracts renewed and therefore see the employee not pay the levy."

Because a lot of people apparently have no sense of propriety. If there had been any sense to the levy cancellation they would simply have not collected any more levies for existing contracts to coincide with the levy free period. Now you have a ton of helpers are rightly worried about being laid off.

Posted by kittycat2 (30 days ago)

And a ton of pissed off employers. A flat 2-yr cancellation/refund would have made everyone happy, this system has upset everyone. Good thing our government employees aren't overpaid, or anything. Oh, wait...

Posted by spurs (30 days ago)

i think there's also another reason - we will cancel our helpers contract in the next month as we would prefer her to receive the difference (about $7k) rather then send it the govts way. and, if we can do it for another 2 year contract as well before the waiver period ends, then she and her family receive another additonal $9k. we already pay her above minimum and i know we could wait, but this is one way we can increase her pay very easily. also, the waiver period is meant as an immediate help to families and we've only just signed a new contract this year so the savings wouldn't be very immediate for her and her family. i do agree though, the change has been made without fully considering full risk of employees being taken advantage of. one hopes, in these situations, for karma. or a labour union movement.

Posted by Peggie Wong (30 days ago)

Hi Emma Chan
I think your view re:levy should be directed to this thread and not to my mail box. Please state your opinion again back to this thread, thank you.

Posted by Peggie Wong (26 days ago)

Hi Emma,
Just got your message - actually it's very simple - scroll down to the end of this thread and write in the box underneath the Post a Reply and press reply after you finish. Hope you get it.

Posted by apple79 (24 days ago)

in order to save agency fee in renewing contract an employer can ask her/his domestic helper to do the processing instead. I renewed my contract with my last employer without having to ask help from the agency. its a simple process so employers don't need to spend some money because of it.

as for mi porke sintemyento, Im a domestic helper in here and with the levy ado that is currently going on, I was also worried with my employment, hm till now my boss didnt say a word about it but still Im worried that one of this days she may aske me to leave to avail of the non-levy chuvachuchu.....

some domestic helper want to finish their current contract then look for another employer. a termination of break contract record will lessen the chance of a domestic helper in looking for a new boss. thus, this current issue pisses us off also.

tsk tsk, well for a humble appeal, if you feel that your DH wanted to work with you further then avail for that early recontracts but if not please just pay the levy ;p, that is helping a poorer than you person....

Posted by devster (20 days ago)

Can anyone please confirm the following with regards to advanced renewal of contract. If you have only paid 2 out of the 4 installments of the levy for the current contract, will immigration require the remaining 2 installments before they allow the advanced renewal of the contract ?? Or is there no requirement to pay the remaining amount.

Cheers

Posted by cd (20 days ago)

For any contract signed before aug 1st 2008 you still have to pay the full levy.

Posted by devster (20 days ago)

cd

Thanks for the reply. Are you sure about that because if so then there will be no point in me doing advanced renewal to avoid the remaining levy payments.

Cheers

Posted by cd (19 days ago)

Not quite sure what you mean, surely the only way to end a contract before time is to either fire the helper, or make them redundant. would immigration let you rehire her if you'd just fired her. The cancellation of the levy is for 2 years, so anybody who hires within that time will have 2 years free levy.

Posted by devster (19 days ago)

The whole point of advanced renewal is you can terminate the DH the hire again immediately on a new contract. My question is whether you have to pay the remaining installments of the levy on the current contract before they will let you renew. If you do then there seems little point in advanced renewal as I would not save any money on levy payments, and would be getting a levy free contract when the current one expires in 2009.

Thx