Exco suspends helper fee, lets you gain twice
Employers of foreign domestic helpers can avoid paying the levy on their contracts for up to 47 months by renewing them early, the government acknowledged yesterday.
Those who obtain new visas for maids - possibly by terminating their contracts prematurely and rehiring them - during a two-year suspension of the levy that begins tomorrow can benefit from a further two-year exemption by terminating the new contracts prematurely before July 31, 2010.
The policy, one of several measures announced to ease the impact of inflation, was approved yesterday by the Executive Council.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung agreed it left the way open for employers to gain a waiver for up to 47 months - worth HK$18,800 - if they signed contracts in August. The suspension is beginning a month earlier than planned following protests that helpers could be sacked by employers waiting for the waiver to take effect on the original date of September 1.
Employers wishing to renew early will have to secure agreement from their helpers. The government will waive the requirement that helpers leave Hong Kong before starting the new contract.
Those who pay the levy by instalment will benefit from the suspension from the date the next instalment is due, but about 10,000 employers who paid the HK$9,600 levy in one go will not benefit.