If the job ends: what is owed
When a helper’s job ends, early or at the end of the contract, this estimates what the employer owes her: final wages, notice pay, untaken leave, travel, and severance or long service pay.
How it is worked out
- Notice: either side may end the contract with a month’s written notice, or a month’s wages instead of notice.
- Final wages: the days worked in the last wage period, paid pro rata, food allowance included.
- Annual leave: the untaken part of this leave year, pro rata, at the average daily wage (a year’s wages divided by 365). Leave left over from the year before is owed on top.
- Travel: a free air ticket home, and HK$100 for each day of the journey, however the job ended.
- Severance after 24 months if the job no longer exists; long service after five years if the employer ended it or did not renew. Both are two-thirds of the last monthly wage for each year, never both.
- Not included: unpaid wages from earlier months, statutory holiday pay, or anything in dispute. A dismissal for serious misconduct changes what is owed.
Guide: terminated, and what you are owed →
Printable receipt for long service or severance →
Estimate — confirm with the Labour Department. Labour Department — helper employment guide
Questions
What is a helper owed when her contract is terminated?
Wages up to her last day, a month’s wages in lieu of notice if notice was not given, pay for untaken annual leave, a free air ticket home with a daily travel allowance, and severance or long service pay if she qualifies.
Does a helper get a long service payment?
Yes, after at least five years with the same employer, if the employer ends the contract or does not renew it, other than for serious misconduct or redundancy. Helpers are outside the MPF, so nothing is offset against it.
What if the contract simply runs out?
She is still owed her final wages, untaken annual leave, the air ticket and travel allowance, and a long service payment if she has five years with the employer and is not renewed. No notice pay is due.
What if she resigns?
She is owed her final wages, untaken annual leave and the air ticket home. If she leaves without a month’s notice, she may owe the employer a month’s wages instead.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is an estimate from the published rules. Confirm with the Labour Department on 2717 1771.