Posted by
hkmama111
17 yrs ago
How much extra do you pay when traveling with DH? 5 day holiday? 2 week holiday?
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In my opinion, nothing extra. Just their salary and food expenses.
When I take my DH on holidays with us, she eats well, stays in beautiful accommodations, gets to visit places she would never normally get the opportunity to see, doesn't have to do normal chores such as laundry, ironing, mopping floors etc, so I don't see why paying her extra is called for. That's only my opinion.
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Doesnt it depend? US visa laws require helpers to be paid a minimum wage which is much higher than in HK.
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hkkm
17 yrs ago
Even though you signed the contract in HK, if you take your DH on holiday to the US and she is working (ie looking after the kids), then she is working in the US and thus subject to their labour laws. If she isn't working, then no problem.
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no extra when we travel. we still pay her food allowance but she eats with us. also, if she works on her usual day off (say sun on hols) we would give her a day off when we are back in HK..
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mrsl
17 yrs ago
I think if you are away on a Sunday or bank holiday, she will need time in lieu, even if she does not work as she's not going to have the chance to relax with her friends. In reality though, most helpers would prefer extra pay than days in lieu (and yes, I know that this is illegal).
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hmmm.. interesting.
So if i take a biz trip to another country, then I should be subject to their labour laws? e.g. if I am on a 2 week trip to France, then I should not work more than the maximum stipulated hours? I better tell my boss about this then!
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i think it is different from the normal business visa. US visas for helpers are condired au pair visas... but hey no one needs to know how much youre paying her
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spurs
17 yrs ago
Australia is the same, the helper would be subject to the Australian minimum wage while she is working there. While you might be on holiday and not earning a wage while there, if you take someone there to work, then they are subject to the labour laws of that country. Which then means that they should not be on a visitors visa, but a work visa, which of course is why many people don't take their helpers to countries like the US and Oz where minimum wages and labour laws are so hefty (and so choose asian countries without these hefty laws instead, or choose to classify their helpers work as a friend doing some babysitting and not working ??).
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hkkm
17 yrs ago
Ken132, whether or not you are subject to the labour laws when you are on a business trip to another country depends on what the labour laws are for the job you are doing. I know that France has strict laws for hours of work, but do they apply to the type of job you do? I suspect that executives for banks and multinationals still work long hours, as they tend to anywhere.
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spurs
17 yrs ago
I couldn't imagine that would possibly satisfy labour laws, no. thats what its really about, and i'm definitely no expert, but it depends on the labour laws of that country - classification of an employee etc etc.
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hkkm
17 yrs ago
joshmomm, there is a big difference between taking your mother on holiday and taking your helper.
In the first case, your mom is there at your invitation, ie she has the choice of whether or not to come with you and what she does while she is there.
In the second case, your helper is there because she is your employee. She has no choice of whether or not to come with you and if you tell her to mind the kids she has to do so. As such, the relationship is still that of employer-employee rather than a relative doing you a favour.
Think of the situation of someone who's just had a baby and has their mother come and stay, versus having a helper. The mother is there by choice, and the help she provides is by mutual agreement and because she wants to. The helper is there because she is employed to be there, the tasks she does are whatever the employer wants (within reason) and because she is being paid. Different rules and laws govern these situations. It's the same when you're on holiday.
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Spurs, you cannot take your Domestic Helper to Australia on a Work Visa, you have to take her on a Tourist Visa, it's the only way. And she can only stay 30 days.
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sbm
17 yrs ago
Although our helper doesn't have to work as hard on holiday as when at home, she does still work everyday of the holiday, so we would pay her extra (double) for Sundays and HK public holidays worked while away. We also pay for everything she needs while she is away (which means, strictly speaking, she gets to keep her food allowance, so makes a little extra there).
Even though she gets to stay in some great places I'd never see it as being a holiday for her - she's in a strange country with no friends/family around and is with her employer. Where's the holiday in that?
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agree with sbm, as an ex nanny i can asure you being away from home with a family is no fun and can often be harder due to different demands.
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yes if the holidays outside hk will also take her holidays let say sunday, then you should pay her daily rate ...salary/monthky wage= amount to be paid per day
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people shouldn't expect there helper to go without a day off whether on holiday or not it's just not fair everyone needs a break.
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my opinion is ...giving the helper an extra pay isn't really a big deal. Hey people, you can afford to go on vacation to US or somewhere else, why not give the helper a lil consideration? regardless of legallities or laws of the country you're goin' to...its really thats simple eh. If you are generous enough, well then give her ..if not..then don't.....as simple as abc eh.
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