Posted by
DC2HK
14 yrs ago
We just hired our first helper, so I'm unfamiliar with how this all works. I've read the guides I've found online, but still can't figure out a few things.
1) When the helper started with us we did not pay to fly her from the Philippines to HK - she was already here. Were we required to do so?
2) We will be out of HK for a few weeks during the summer and a few weeks during the winter. I've told our helper that she can have those weeks off and can go home to visit her family if she wants. That said, I can't figure out what our legal responsibility is as far as paying for her travel back home and continuing to pay her salary when she is "off". She said we should split the cost of her flight, but is that because we should have paid to fly her here at the start of her employment or for some other reason?
Thanks!
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1) Despite the fact that she was here already, it is your responsibility to pay for her travel from home in the Philippines to your home in HK (door to door) at the beginning of the contract. So that is One way ticket from nearest airport in Philippines, bus fare in Philippines and HK, plus about 100HKD per day travel allowance.
2) She's not entitled to leave in first year so there is no responsibility to pay for any trips home on that count, but nothing wrong with giving her some leave if you don't need her hanging around. Yes, it sounds like she is asking you to pay her for half of her fare in lieu of the ticket you haven't yet paid her for (1 above). Seems like the logical solution. Sounds like she is a good straight forward person.
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I think what has happened is this. She is a finished contract and so the previous employer must have paid for her HK to home in the Phillipines leg which she has not used yet. You still owe her for the Phillipines to HK leg, so on the first vacation she has you will pay for her Phillipines to HK leg as suggested above. Whether or not you pay for her annual leave ( 7 days per year) in advance or otherwise is to be negotiated between the two of you.
At the completion of the 2 year contract, it will be your responsibility to pay for her return trip from HK to Phillipines, and back to HK is you renew her.
There are loads of threads on the same issues if it is still unclear.
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DC2HK
14 yrs ago
Thanks very much for the responses. That does clear things up.
One new question -- is it better to book her flight for her or give her cash for 1/2 the flight?
I just went on Philippines Airlines website to book her travel & it says "If the credit card owner is not part of the travelling party and is unable to present the credit card used, PAL also reserves the right to require the presentation of clear photocopies of the front of the credit card and the valid PHOTO ID of the credit card owner at the ticket collection point, upon check-in and in cases of reissuance, rebooking and/or refund . It shall be the responsibility of the credit card owner to ensure that the passenger(s) comply with the requirement."
Is this typical? I'm a little wary about it, but since I'm new to this maybe I don't need to be?
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maz27
14 yrs ago
A bit of advice - I saved some money by buying my helper's ticket back to Phillipines through a filipina travel agency and got a "labour rate" which only helper's are allowed to use - she still flew with Phillipines Airlines rather than Cebu as PA allow larger luggage allowance. Just thought I'd let you know.
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fyi only - employers are not restricted to which transportation /airlines used to send dh home. the law says free passage only. so one has the option to book a budget airlines going to and from the philippines and to which the helper should take an onward journey home via bus which works out cheaper.
from the labour dept.
employer should provide free passage, usually an air ticket covering airport tax for you to return to your place of origin, and a daily food and travelling allowance of HK$100 per day.
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HK2
14 yrs ago
Hi maz27,
just sent you a pm.
thank you!
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