terminating helper's contract

Posted by mayajayj (93 days ago)

We have terminated our helpers contract and she has requested her return flight to her home town of Silay, whereas we were only going to get her a flight to Manila. Is this right? The cost for an internal flight from manila to Silay is quite high but of course we will do this if it is expected. Any ideas?

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Posted by itsmeinhk (93 days ago)

Yes, you have to pay for her transportation from your door to her door, not only back to Manila.
Make sure you have her sign a paper where it's written that you gave her the money.

Posted by souffleQueen (93 days ago)

Yes. If her point of origin is Silay, as stated in the contract.

Posted by axptguy38 (93 days ago)

As the above say. Note that it's not only the flight(s) but also any buses, ferries, taxis and trains to her door. Also a small food allowance if the trip is long enough to warrant it.

Posted by purefit (26 days ago)

If I want to terminate my helper all I have to give is an air ticket? What about one month's salary in advance or could I forgo that if I give her a month's notice?

Posted by spurtio (26 days ago)

If you give her a month's notice, you pay her for that month, then you have to pay for any untaken leave, a one way air ticket, travel the other end home, and a travel allowance of HK$100 per day. Oh, and severance pay if she has done more than two years with you.
It is all in the handbook available on the Labour Dept website. Including examples of the letters you need to write and forms (showing how much paid) that you need her to sign, so nothing comes back to bite you in the backside.
It is a useful read. Not sure why everyone isn't given a copy when they employ a FDH.
http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/FDHguide.pdf

Posted by purefit (25 days ago)

If I don't give a month's notice then I just pay her for one way ticket to her home? I don't have a copy with me for now.

Posted by Susie1 (25 days ago)

Unless you have good reason to terminate your helper 'on the spot", (look at the reasons on Imm web sight),then you must give her one month notice, and her air fare(or an actual air ticket) to her home address, plus food allowance for duration of the travel ie. 100hkd.
You must let immigration know the date of dismisal,within 7 days. Make sure you have receipts for any money's , air tickets or money in lieu of.given to the helper, better to have an independant witness around when you do this, It saves any rebound from the helper saying she hasn't had this and that, make sure her signiture is the same as on her passport.

Posted by spurtio (25 days ago)

You don't have to make her work the one month's notice, so you can ask her to leave immediately, but you then have to pay her a month's salry in lieu of notice (just as with any other employment contract) The only exception as Susie says is if you are firing her for "Serious Misconduct" as defined on the Labour Dept website.
Just click on the link which will lead you to the Guide.
http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/FDHguide.pdf