The Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) for foreign domestic helpers is HK$5,100/month right now. Hong Kong's annual review is usually announced in the last week of September. Unions have asked for HK$6,172 to HK$6,670 in 2026, but based on 15 years of history, a smaller rise closer to HK$5,200–HK$5,300 is much more likely. The final 2026 decision had not been announced as of 13 September 2026.
What the 2026 MAW Review Is — and When It Happens
Every year, the Hong Kong government reviews the Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) for Foreign Domestic Helpers. It considers general economic performance, labour market conditions, the near-term outlook, employer affordability, helpers' livelihood, and stakeholder views. The Chief Executive in Council makes the final decision, which the Labour Department publishes.
The September pattern
The announcement has landed in the last week of September for the past seven years. The new rate takes effect the next day and applies to Standard Employment Contracts signed on or after that date. Contracts signed on or before the announcement at the old rate are generally processed if applications reach the Immigration Department within the cut-off period stated in its follow-up notice.
| Review year | Announcement date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Fri 27 September | Sat 28 September 2019 |
| 2020 | Tue 29 September | Wed 30 September 2020 |
| 2021 | Thu 30 September | Fri 1 October 2021 |
| 2022 | Fri 30 September | Sat 1 October 2022 |
| 2023 | Fri 29 September | Sat 30 September 2023 |
| 2024 | Fri 27 September | Sat 28 September 2024 |
| 2025 | Mon 29 September | Tue 30 September 2025 |
| 2026 | Expected: last week of September | Expected: late September / 1 October |
Publication status: As of 13 September 2026, the government had not announced the 2026 rate. This article distinguishes confirmed facts from forecasts and will need updating after the decision.
Where Things Stand Right Now
- MAW: HK$5,100/month — in force since 30 September 2025
- Food allowance: HK$1,236/month — unchanged since 30 September 2023
- Total minimum monthly obligation: HK$6,336 when the employer pays food allowance instead of providing meals
- The 2025 review raised MAW by 2.2%, from HK$4,990 to HK$5,100, and left food allowance unchanged
The HK$5,100 vs HK$6,000 Tension
On 5 July 2026, two major migrant-worker coalitions attended their Labour Department consultation and submitted formal demands for the review.
| Coalition | MAW demanded | Increase asked | Food allowance demanded |
|---|---|---|---|
| FADWU | HK$6,670 | +30.8% | HK$2,770 |
| AMCB | HK$6,172 | +21.0% | HK$3,123 |
The unions argue that these demands reflect actual living costs, the 2020 and 2021 freezes, and the cumulative gap between MAW and Hong Kong's cost of living. An employer coalition previously pushed for a freeze, citing household financial pressure.
Fact: The union demands are formal opening positions in the annual consultation. They are not a government leak or forecast. Hypothesis: The final decision is likely to sit much closer to the government's historical pattern than to the union demands.
Full Historical MAW Table (2019–2026)
The figures below are cross-checked against Labour Department and Hong Kong Government announcements.
| Effective from | MAW (HK$/mo) | Change | Food allowance | Change | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sep 2019 | 4,630 | +2.4% | 1,121 | +4.3% | Pre-pandemic |
| 30 Sep 2020 | 4,630 | 0% | 1,121 | 0% | COVID-19 |
| 1 Oct 2021 | 4,630 | 0% | 1,173 | +4.6% | COVID recovery |
| 1 Oct 2022 | 4,730 | +2.2% | 1,196 | +2.0% | Post-freeze catch-up |
| 30 Sep 2023 | 4,870 | +3.0% | 1,236 | +3.3% | Highest rise in five years |
| 28 Sep 2024 | 4,990 | +2.5% | 1,236 | 0% | Food allowance frozen |
| 30 Sep 2025 | 5,100 | +2.2% | 1,236 | 0% | Food allowance frozen again |
| ~30 Sep 2026 | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending | 2026 review |
- Freezes have occurred during genuine crises: most recently the 2020–2021 COVID period.
- Since 2019, every non-frozen increase has been between 2.2% and 3.0%, or HK$100–HK$140 per month.
What the Government Has Actually Decided — the Pattern
Recent announcements consistently cite the same basket of factors: economic performance, labour market conditions, near-term outlook, affordability for employers, helpers' basic living needs, and stakeholder views. Entering the 2026 decision, Hong Kong was not in a crisis comparable with 2020–2021, while employer groups stressed affordability and helper groups stressed inflation and a living wage.
The government has not matched a union living-wage demand in a single modern MAW review, nor awarded a rise above 3% in the past decade. HK$6,172 would require a 21% jump — many times larger than recent non-freeze increases.
Three Realistic Scenarios for the 2026 Announcement
Scenario A — Freeze at HK$5,100
Likelihood: Low. There is no close crisis parallel to 2020–2021. The two-year base-wage cost remains HK$122,400, with no change from today.
Scenario B — Base case: HK$5,200–HK$5,250
Likelihood: High. A 2%–3% rise matches every non-frozen year since 2019. Base wage would cost HK$124,800–HK$126,000 over two years, an extra HK$2,400–HK$3,600.
Scenario C — Higher rise: HK$5,300–HK$5,460
Likelihood: Moderate. A 4%–7% rise would break the recent pattern but could reflect inflation, the two-year food-allowance freeze, or a policy move toward market salaries. Two-year base wage would be HK$127,200–HK$131,040, an extra HK$4,800–HK$8,640.
Scenario D — Union territory: HK$6,000+
Likelihood: Very low. This would be a discontinuous policy shift with no recent precedent. At HK$6,000–HK$6,670, two-year base wage would be HK$144,000–HK$160,080 — HK$21,600–HK$37,680 more than today.
Combined cost: wage plus food allowance over 24 months
| Scenario | MAW | Monthly obligation | 2-year cost | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current / Freeze | HK$5,100 | HK$6,336 | HK$152,064 | HK$0 |
| Base case (+2.2%) | HK$5,210 | HK$6,446 | HK$154,704 | +HK$2,640 |
| Base case (+2.9%) | HK$5,250 | HK$6,486 | HK$155,664 | +HK$3,600 |
| Higher rise (+5%) | HK$5,355 | HK$6,591 | HK$158,184 | +HK$6,120 |
| HK$6,000 | HK$6,000 | HK$7,236 | HK$173,664 | +HK$21,600 |
| AMCB ask | HK$6,172 | HK$7,408 | HK$177,792 | +HK$25,728 |
| FADWU ask | HK$6,670 | HK$7,906 | HK$189,744 | +HK$37,680 |
These figures assume food allowance remains HK$1,236 and cover base wage plus food allowance only. They exclude Employees' Compensation Insurance, medical insurance, and any market premium above MAW.
What HK$6,000 Means for Helpers — in Peso and Rupiah
Using indicative early-September 2026 mid-market rates of 1 HKD ≈ PHP 7.99 and IDR 2,247, each MAW adjustment has a larger effect when remitted home.
For Filipino helpers (PHP)
| MAW scenario | HK$ monthly | PHP equivalent | Change vs current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current | HK$5,100 | ≈ PHP 40,749 | — |
| Base case | HK$5,250 | ≈ PHP 41,948 | +PHP 1,199/mo |
| Higher rise | HK$5,400 | ≈ PHP 43,146 | +PHP 2,397/mo |
| HK$6,000 | HK$6,000 | ≈ PHP 47,940 | +PHP 7,191/mo |
| FADWU ask | HK$6,670 | ≈ PHP 53,293 | +PHP 12,544/mo |
For context, many Philippine regional minimum wages are roughly PHP 8,000–PHP 10,500 per month for full-time work. A HK$1,000 MAW increase is worth about PHP 7,990 per month at this indicative rate.
For Indonesian helpers (IDR)
| MAW scenario | HK$ monthly | IDR equivalent | Change vs current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current | HK$5,100 | ≈ Rp 11.46 million | — |
| Base case | HK$5,250 | ≈ Rp 11.80 million | +Rp 337k/mo |
| Higher rise | HK$5,400 | ≈ Rp 12.13 million | +Rp 675k/mo |
| HK$6,000 | HK$6,000 | ≈ Rp 13.48 million | +Rp 2.02 million/mo |
| AMCB ask | HK$6,172 | ≈ Rp 13.87 million | +Rp 2.41 million/mo |
Indonesia's 2026 provincial minimum wages vary widely, from roughly Rp 2.1 million to Rp 5.4 million. Actual remittance services generally deliver 1%–2% less than these mid-market illustrations after spreads and fees.
What Every Employer Should Do Now
- 1
Check which MAW binds each existing contract
The applicable MAW is the rate in force when the Standard Employment Contract was signed, not the helper's start date or today's rate.
- 2
Plan renewals around Scenario B
If renewal is due before December 2026, use HK$5,250 as a planning number rather than assuming HK$5,100 will remain.
- 3
Review salaries already above HK$5,300
Employers already paying above this level may be insulated from a base-case MAW change, though food allowance can still move.
- 4
Understand September signing timing
Contracts signed before the announcement may use the current rate if submitted within ImmD's published cut-off; contracts signed after it use the new rate.
- 5
Budget food allowance separately
After two frozen years, allow for a possible adjustment and use HK$1,300 as a soft planning ceiling for 2027.
Signing before an announced rate change is not permission to underpay. Employers must follow the rate legally attached to the contract date and the Immigration Department's exact submission cut-off.
Sources & References
- HK Government: 2025 MAW raised to HK$5,100
- HK Government: 2024 MAW announcement
- HK Government: 2023 MAW and food allowance announcement
- HK Government: 2022 MAW announcement
- HK Government: 2021 MAW announcement
- HK Government: 2020 MAW announcement
- Labour Department: 2019 MAW announcement
- Labour Department: Foreign Domestic Helpers
- Hong Kong Free Press: 2026 union proposals
- Currency.Wiki: HKD/PHP reference
- Pluang: HKD/IDR reference
Disclaimer: This guide is for information only and is not legal advice. Confirm current MAW, food allowance, and Immigration Department cut-off dates with the Labour Department or a licensed employment agency. Exchange-rate figures are indicative early-September 2026 mid-market rates and will vary at remittance.
Related Guides
- Hong Kong Domestic Helper Salary 2026
- Cost of Hiring a Domestic Helper HK 2026
- Helper Contract Renewal Hong Kong 2026
- Filipino vs Indonesian Helper 2026
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Last updated: 13 September 2026. This article will be refreshed after the 2026 MAW announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers to the questions employers ask most about this topic.
When is the 2026 MAW announcement?
The Hong Kong government has announced the MAW review in the last week of September every year since at least 2019. The 2026 announcement is expected between 26 and 30 September 2026. This article will be updated after the announcement.
Will the MAW go up to HK$6,000 in 2026?
It is very unlikely in a single review. Every non-frozen year since 2019 produced an increase between 2.2% and 3.0%. HK$6,000 would be a 17.6% rise. Unions have asked for HK$6,172 and HK$6,670, but those are consultation positions, not forecasts.
What is the current MAW for domestic helpers in Hong Kong?
The MAW is HK$5,100 per month, in force since 30 September 2025. Employers must also provide free food or pay at least HK$1,236 per month as food allowance, making the combined minimum HK$6,336 when allowance is paid.
If my contract was signed before 30 September 2025, does the HK$5,100 MAW apply to me?
No. The MAW attached to a contract is the rate in force on the date the Standard Employment Contract was signed. A contract signed before 30 September 2025 is generally bound to the previous HK$4,990 rate.
What happens to contracts signed just before the 2026 announcement?
Based on recent practice, the Immigration Department may process contracts at the pre-announcement rate if signed before the announcement and submitted by the cut-off in its follow-up notice. Employers should verify the exact 2026 date once published.
Can the food allowance change without the MAW changing?
Yes. In 2021 the government froze MAW but raised food allowance. In 2024 and 2025 it raised MAW while leaving food allowance unchanged. The two amounts are reviewed together but decided separately.
How much would a HK$6,000 MAW actually cost me over a 2-year contract?
Compared with today's HK$5,100, HK$6,000 adds HK$900 per month, or HK$21,600 in base wage over 24 months. Any food-allowance increase would add more.
Is the MAW the same as Hong Kong's statutory minimum wage?
No. The Statutory Minimum Wage is hourly and covers most local employees. Live-in foreign domestic helpers are exempt and instead covered by the separate monthly Minimum Allowable Wage framework.
Does the MAW apply differently to Filipino vs Indonesian helpers?
No. The MAW applies equally to foreign domestic helpers of every nationality, including Filipino, Indonesian, Thai, and Sri Lankan helpers.
What are the penalties for paying below the MAW?
Paying below the MAW is a criminal offence under the Employment Ordinance, with maximum fines of HK$350,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. A helper's agreement to accept less does not make underpayment lawful.
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