There is no monthly foreign domestic helper employer levy in Hong Kong in 2026. The HK$400 Employees Retraining Levy was abolished on 1 August 2013. Do not add HK$400 a month or HK$9,600 to a two-year helper budget.
Some older guides confuse the abolished Employees Retraining Levy with current visa, consular or service fees. Those costs may still apply, but they are not a recurring HK$400 government levy.
If a quote contains a monthly “FDH levy,” ask the provider to identify the current legal basis and government payment channel before paying it.
What Is the FDH Levy?
The old levy was an Employees Retraining Levy imposed on employers of foreign domestic helpers. The Government first suspended collection and then abolished it in 2013.
- Current employer levy: HK$0
- Former rate: HK$400 per month
- Abolished: 1 August 2013
- Current visa, consular, insurance and service charges are separate costs
Do not deduct a supposed levy from the helper's wages. There is no current monthly levy to pass on.
What Employers Pay Instead
Abolition of the levy does not remove the employer's other legal and contractual costs.
- At least HK$5,220 monthly wage for contracts signed from 3 October 2026
- Free food or at least HK$1,236 monthly food allowance
- Employees' compensation insurance
- Free medical treatment and contractual passage obligations
- Current visa, nationality-specific processing and any private service fees
Why Old Calculators Are Wrong
A calculator that adds HK$400 each month overstates a two-year budget by HK$9,600.
- Check the publication date and source of every cost figure
- Do not confuse a Filipino MWO verification charge with a Hong Kong monthly levy
- Ask whether medical, travel and government fees are already included in a service package
Are Exemptions Needed?
No exemption is needed because the levy no longer exists.
- All employers use HK$0 as the current monthly levy
- Eligibility rules for other subsidies or allowances are separate questions
The Levy and the Total Cost of Employment
A current minimum-cost calculation starts with wages and either free food or the cash food allowance, then adds insurance and route-specific costs.
| Cost Component | Monthly Amount | 2-Year Total |
|---|---|---|
| MAW (contracts signed from 3 Oct 2026) | HK$5,220 | HK$125,280 |
| Food allowance | HK$1,236 | HK$29,664 |
| Employer levy | HK$0 | HK$0 |
| Employees' Compensation Insurance | Variable | Obtain a current quote |
| Wage + cash food allowance | HK$6,456 | HK$154,944 |
Historical Context
The Government stopped collecting the levy from 1 August 2008 for a five-year suspension period and abolished it when that suspension ended on 1 August 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the levy apply when a helper starts?
No. A new employment contract does not revive the abolished levy.
Does nationality change the levy?
No. The current levy is HK$0 regardless of nationality. Consular and deployment procedures can still differ.
Use the refreshed total-cost guide or calculator and remove any legacy HK$400 monthly line item.
Calculate your total cost of hiring with SeekHelpers — see all fees before you commit
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers to the questions employers ask most about this topic.
How much is the domestic helper levy in Hong Kong in 2026?
HK$0. Hong Kong abolished the HK$400 monthly Employees Retraining Levy for foreign domestic helper employers on 1 August 2013.
Do employers need to apply for a levy exemption?
No. The levy was abolished for all foreign domestic helper employers, so no exemption application is needed.
Why do some cost guides still add HK$400 per month?
They are using obsolete information or confusing the abolished levy with current visa, consular or service fees. Adding HK$400 monthly overstates a two-year budget by HK$9,600.
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