The prescribed minimum wage for foreign domestic helpers will rise by 2.35 per cent, from HK$5,100 to HK$5,220 a month, the Labour Department announced on October 2.
The higher rate applies to contracts signed from October 3.
The meal requirement will remain unchanged. Under the standard employment contract, employers must provide free meals, but may choose to pay a meal allowance instead. That allowance must be at least HK$1,236 a month and is an alternative to providing meals, rather than an extra payment alongside them.
Employers who signed contracts at the existing HK$5,100 rate on or before October 2 may still submit them to the Immigration Department for processing under the old rate. The contracts must be submitted by October 30.
The government said its review considered Hong Kong’s economic performance and labour-market conditions over the past year, the short-term economic outlook, employers’ ability to pay and foreign domestic helpers’ basic living needs. It also took account of views from employers and helpers before deciding on the increase.