HELP has assisted tens of thousands of domestic workers with their legal problem since 1989.
Most issues that they encounter can be avoided if there is a better understanding of their rights. Our code of conduct is a general guide that set out a minimum standard for employers on how to treat domestic workers fairly.
- Treat your domestic worker as you would like to be treated as an employee. The same laws that apply to you also apply to your domestic worker.
- Be aware of your contractual and statutory obligations as an employer of a domestic worker, familiarise yourself with and respect anti-discrimination laws particularly sex, disability and race discrimination laws.
- You are responsible for your domestic worker’s recruitment related expenses and she/he can only be charged a maximum placement commission of 10 percent of her/his first month’s wages by employment agencies. Only engage agencies that are committed to fair and ethical recruitment practices.
- Keep accurate records of your payments to your domestic worker and provide her/him copies of payment slips or receipts.
- Take reasonable measures to ensure that your domestic worker has a safe working environment and provide appropriate medical care and sick leave when needed.
- Provide your domestic worker with decent living conditions that respect her/his privacy.
- Do not retain personal belongings of your domestic worker, particularly her/his passport and other identification documents.
- Grant your domestic worker at least one full 24-hour rest day each week and a reasonable amount of rest during work days.
- Be mindful of acts that may be considered abusive, exploitative or inhumane, which could undermine the implied terms of mutual trust and confidence inherent in a contract of employment.
- Maintain open and regular communication with your domestic worker to minimise misunderstanding and foster a positive employment relationship.
This code aims to complement relevant provisions in the Hong Kong Employment Ordinance and other existing applicable laws and regulations.