Posted by
XImoto
13 yrs ago
Hello, have been in HK for about 9 months now and have not had a need for a helper, so we got an apartment without a Helper's room. My wife was asked to come to work for a 6 month contract. We are now in a position where we need a helper for our kids especially late afternoon through evening when they get out of school before we can get home.
I understand the law on helpers living out of the house, and would assume that as long as they are HK residents this is acceptable?
My question is what are my options for a helper that will not put the helper in a legal situation and is a temp (6 month contract with potential extension) a viable request?
We live in DB and work in Central, kids go to school in Kennedy Town.
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I don't know how bit your apartment is, but technically a Foreign Domestic Helper does not need her own room. The rule is that she should have a room if possible but a "private space" is acceptable. If you have a spare bedroom that works too of course.
As cara says a resident can live out, work part time or whatever. A FDH, on the other hand, must live in on a contract for you.
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I used to live in DB and it's rife. So long as you're happy to 'bend' the law, you can do it. There are heaps of part timers who live at Nim Shue Wan, the boarding house near the marina or Tung Chung. I know a lot of DB people who have full time live out helpers who live at 'The Views'. There's a number of 3 bedroom flats with 6 helpers living in them and they actually have a pretty alright lifestyle. They share a room but they have good community which I think is often much better than living in a small helper room. Put an advert in the DB forum or look in the 'seeking employer' section and you'll find lots of options.
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Thank you all. We are starting to interview helpers, figure we need to use the helper as a guide to what we can do.
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Even if your apartment is quite small, it is probably larger than what many locals live in, and they have helpers too. It is important to keep in mind that a helper is not a houseguest. She is an employee. If both employers and employees have some humility and sense of humor, as well as the right chemistry, living in tight confines need not be a problem.
There's a book called "Hiring and Managing Domestic Help" which you will probably find useful.
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