During a Legislative Council (LegCo) sitting on 14 October, lawmakers pressed the government to introduce a probation period, airfare cost-sharing and stricter penalties for criminally convicted foreign domestic helpers (FDHs). In a detailed reply, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said the administration has “no plan” to add a statutory probation clause or alter the long-standing rule that employers bear return-passage costs, arguing existing notice and summary-dismissal provisions already protect households. Sun acknowledged employer frustration with high agency fees when rehiring but maintained that pricing should remain a market decision. To enhance transparency, the Labour Department revised its Code of Practice for Employment Agencies in 2024, requiring disclosures on refund and replacement policies. Non-compliant agencies risk licence suspension. On calls to deny statutory compensation to helpers dismissed after criminal convictions, Sun noted that cases vary in severity and that employers can already summarily dismiss helpers guilty of fraud or theft. The Immigration Department will continue to vet new visa applications rigorously and may refuse entry to helpers with adverse records. Stakeholders are split. Employer groups welcome tougher vetting but warn that shifting costs to helpers could deter applicants and exacerbate labour shortages. Migrant-worker advocates argue that cutting benefits would violate international labour standards and could push helpers into debt bondage. For corporate mobility managers, the outcome is significant: around 380,000 Hong Kong households employ FDHs, including expatriate families on assignment. Any policy change affecting contracts, notice periods or flight liabilities could influence relocation budgets and family-support packages.
Source: HKSAR Government Press Release
