Posted by
Hayzee
17 yrs ago
Firstly, I just want to thank everyone who has been replying to my questions the last couple of days.
I have another question regarding Live Out Helpers and their expenses. I'm going to try and get permission from the Hong Kong Governement for my FDH to Live Out. (I already have one Full Time Live-In FDH and there will be no room for the second one, hence the Live-Out arrangement).
What I would like to know is, what is the normal amount (HK$) of live-out expenses a Live-Out helper should receive, on top of her salary? And what exactly are the expenses for? I'm guessing it's food, accommodation and transport allowances for the month.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
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dezz
17 yrs ago
i know someone who pay her helper hk5,000,includes food,accomodation and transportation.
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Thanks dezz.
Do you know the breakdown of the 5,000 (how much is the salary and how much are the expenses?)
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Wow, so helper only has $1,520 for accommodation, food and transport! Must live in a box, eat nothing but rice and god knows how she pays for transport without using her normal salary!
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Evildeeds, no need to get sarcastic here and on other threads. People here are asking questions as they need advice - not put-downs.
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dezz
17 yrs ago
the helper agreed on what the employer offer,which is 5000.so i think there's no problem in there.some live out helpers find someone to share with a room to save little money,so thats the helper did.but its up to hayzee if she pays more,i only tell what i know
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Our helper gets her Monthly salary, $1,000. a month for rent. She lives in a boarding house and it is $1,000. inclusive. We also give her $200. a month for bus, and bought her a used bike, as she lives very close to us, and likes to ride a bicycle. So rainy days she will often ake the bus.
She eats meals at our home
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PoliteEmployer, this is not about sarcasm, it is about realism. If you don't like what I write please don't read! I offer advice many time as an employer in HK and make comparisons. Many people don't like that but these are the same people who walk into my office asking me to give them more money because they can only afford to rent a 1,000 sq/ft flat and it's just not the same as home, etc, etc. And the expenses in Central are killing them, blah, blah. I do see so much hypocrisy on here. The old saying "treat others as you would want to be treated yourself" translates to an old Chairman M saying of "treat other exactly how I would not want to be treated myself".
Now as for sarcasm, put yourself in the DH shoes. I mentioned $1520 per month for rent, food and transport. The question is, can you do it?
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Miggy
17 yrs ago
Hi Hayzee,
If you realy need a stay out DH, I know somebody? she's in Tung Chung carribean coast staying in her uncle house for a short vacation. Right now she taking care of her nice while the nanny of their son is in the philippines for a medication. Actually this is the first time she want to try to work averseas, she's married and 4 kids already. you dont need to pay her stay out expenses coz she can stay in her uncle house in Tung Chung. if you're interested pls call this no. 90222424 her mobile her name is michelle or. hope to here from you soon. thanks
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Hayzee, in my current neighbourhood, the rent for a single room at a dormitory is $800 per month. We had a helper who lived in a dormitory for awhile. She ate what we ate for all meals. On top of the rent, we gave her the mandatory salary and $300 as the minimum sum stipulated by the government (This is not compulsory if you provide for her meals). We didn't have to give her a travel allowance as the dormitory as we understood it was across the road. In general, our ex-helper told us that $1000 is enough for rent but you need to investigate it as it depends on the dormitories.
We have offered to give her more money in lieu of eating our food as we didn't want to impose our food preferences on her but she has politely declined as she preferred eating our meals as she said that it's better than the quality at the dormitory.
So, in total it was $4,500 as we didn't need to fork out more than minimum wage plus the food allowance as stipulated on the contract. But bear in mind that our added expenses in her daily meal consumption are hidden costs.
Yes, $5000 is sufficient as long as the DH's meals at work are taken care of.
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The answer really depends on the distance between the boarding house and where you live and whether there are added transportation expenses (assuming of course that you actually get permission).
HK$5,000 could be on the low side but it could also be just about right; it definitely isn't on the high side. Given how expensive real estate is here, HK$5,000 all-in for a helper would be a relative bargain. Renting a bigger flat that can accommodate your second helper would surely cost more than HK$1200 per month.
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i thought it was v hard to get legal permission for a live out helper. i'd happily pay $5000, or more, to do it legally.
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agreed with your spockey, there is hidden cost which is difficult to count. We paid HK$3400 for wages and HK$1200 for boarding, we provide food for our helper. Actually she is a good and caring to our bub, however, as she does grocery for us on her choice (for preparing our meals), sometimes she spends quite an extra on that as she also buy the soft drinks, juices, snacks for herself (which we will not eat) at the same time. We try not to be too bossy nor to control everything, as we also understand there is a mutual relationship here. But seems to us that, the expenses we have to pay for is a bit out of control.
This is our first time to have a helper. Just dont know what is fair enough for both parties
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Dohmum - did you know that min wage is $3,480? she is so wonderful and you pay her below min wage?
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bunnie, sorry, we are in Tung Chung, no where near Mid-levels. Good Luck
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$3480 only applies to those contract signed after 8th June 2007.
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wow, someone is a bit tight...
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hm....we bot her a new moblie and paid for her telephone bill (including long distance) and she has our (auto top up) octopus for travelling (even for rest day) and buying cosmetic stuff for herself. Actually, no limit was set for her to use money. We are confused too what is standard of tight or loose.
Thanks for all response.
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idsllvn:
its not being tight.. if they signed the contract before 8th june 07 its just 3400 flat.. and it doesnt mean all helpers get a raise evrytime the minimum is raised.. but then again it depends on the employer..
and if they decide not increase.. its up to them.. its not being tight at all..
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I think it is what makes you comfortable I guess. I personally think 3,400 is too low, but than again I am probably a total doormat when it comes to helpers - I pay ours way more than that, including our second helper who is a sister-in-law of our first one and we got her straight from Phil with NO experience whatsoever... They have families at home to look after, that was my thinking..
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i appreciate that... i am a helper and i earn 3400 flat as well.. since i gotmy contract last may.. it may not be much but im comfortable with it.. and its up to my boss if they are happy with my work and want to increase.. either way i still do the job coz thats what im here for... you can really complain if you dont have any other job choices athough to be perfectly honest i could use the extra.. :D
but dont be too linient with helpers some take the p*ss and dont appreiciate the fact that they have a great boss and an ideal job...
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I really appreciate my helpers, even tho they are no ideal either of course! I would be lost without them - with us both working full time. I think they work very hard - there are two little ones to look after and the house to run - I dont even ask them to cook much - maybe 1-2 times a week as I think they are busy as it is... I think they deserve what I pay them.. but then I am a first time employer, we only came to HK less than a year ago and before that we did everything ourselves so I am really greateful to them for taking all the chores off my shoulders!
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Sorry... I am out in the NT.
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