Hong Kong DH Salary 2026: HK$5,220 from 3 October & Pay Guide

The 2026 Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW)

The Government sets the MAW by contract-signing date: HK$5,100 for contracts signed 30 September 2025–2 October 2026; HK$5,220 from 3 October 2026. A household and helper may agree a higher wage. There is no official district-by-district or nationality-based salary table. The announcement guide explains the 30 October receipt deadline for qualifying older-rate applications.

• Confirmed 2026 wage increase and transition deadline

• HK$5,220 — MAW for contracts signed from 3 October 2026
• HK$1,236 — Food Allowance (if not providing meals)
• Paying below the MAW is illegal, regardless of any written agreement
• Immigration Department will not approve a visa if salary is below MAW
• The MAW applies to all nationalities equally — Filipino, Indonesian, Thai, etc.

Food Allowance: What You Must Provide

Under the Standard Employment Contract (ID 407), employers must either provide free food throughout the contract period, or pay a monthly food allowance in lieu of meals.

Option 1: Provide Free Food

• Employer provides all meals (or ingredients)
• Best for: Households where helper cooks family meals

Option 2: Pay Food Allowance (HK$1,236/month)

• Monthly cash payment instead of food
• Best for: Helpers with specific dietary preferences
• The cash allowance gives the helper autonomy over dietary choices
• Paying it at the start of the month builds goodwill and is seen as best practice

What Employers Actually Pay for DH Salary and DH Pay

The signed Standard Employment Contract records the salary the household and helper agree. The legal floor is the current MAW; experience, duties, care needs, language requirements and driving expectations can all affect a separately negotiated salary. Do not treat an advertised range as an official entitlement.

What skills and duties can affect the agreed pay?

• Infant/newborn care — Peace of mind for infants/toddlers
• Elderly/dementia support — Specialised, emotional care
• Cooking specialty — Western, Japanese, healthy meal prep
• Language: English or Cantonese fluency — Expat families, childcare roles
• Driving or other role-specific requirements — Confirm the relevant experience and licence before agreeing pay

Total Monthly Cost of Hiring a Domestic Helper

For a new-rate contract, minimum monthly wage plus cash food is HK$6,456, before insurance and case-specific costs. If adequate free food is provided instead, the cash food allowance is not payable. Existing contracts must use their actual agreed wages.

Monthly Recurring Costs

One-Time & Annual Costs

• Agency fee: HK$0 (SeekHelpers) to HK$20,000 (traditional agencies)
• POLO/MWO contract verification (Filipino): HK$476
• Visa fee: HK$230
• Comprehensive insurance (2-year): HK$550–1,300
• Return airfare at contract end: ~HK$1,500–3,000

• See the complete two-year total-cost guide

Food Allowance for Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong (HK$1,236/month)

The domestic helper food allowance is a mandatory entitlement under the Standard Employment Contract (ID 407). Every employer must either provide free food for the entire duration of the contract, or pay HK$1,236 per month as a cash food allowance. You cannot choose neither option — both providing inadequate food and paying below HK$1,236 are violations of the contract.

Food Allowance: Key Facts for HK Employers in 2026

• The food allowance remains at least HK$1,236/month; unchanged in both the 2025 and 2026 announcements
• It is separate from the HK$5,220 new-contract wage
• If you provide free meals, you do not pay the cash allowance (but meals must be adequate — 3 meals/day)
• Most helpers prefer the cash allowance (choice over their own diet, Halal/dietary preferences)
• The food allowance is reviewed by the government at the same time as the MAW
• Over a 2-year contract, the food allowance adds HK$29,664 to total employment cost
• Unlike wages, the food allowance does not affect severance pay or long service payment calculations

Should You Provide Meals or Pay the Food Allowance?

Providing free meals can save the HK$1,236 cash payment but works best when: (a) your household eats together and the helper naturally shares meals, (b) the helper's dietary needs can be met, and (c) the arrangement is practical for your household routine. If those conditions are not met, document the cash allowance option in the Standard Employment Contract.

Hong Kong Domestic Helper Salary in Philippine Pesos (PHP)

This archived illustration assumes 1 HKD ≈ 7.85 PHP in April 2026; it is not a current, sourced exchange quote. For an actual remittance, use a dated provider quote and its fees. HKD wages are not a fixed PHP amount.

Note: Philippine remittance services (Western Union, GCash Padala, Remitly, BDO Kabayan, etc.) charge transfer fees and use exchange rates slightly below the interbank rate — factor in a spread of 0.5–1.5% for typical OFW remittance apps. The Philippine government's OFW remittance data shows Hong Kong consistently among the top 5 sources of remittances to the Philippines.

Food Allowance in Philippine Pesos

The HK$1,236 food allowance is approximately PHP 9,703 per month at April 2026 exchange rates. For a helper who sends most of their wages home, this represents a significant addition to their monthly remittance capacity — roughly equivalent to a modest provincial household's monthly food budget in many Philippine provinces.

MAW History: How Domestic Helper Salaries Have Changed

The MAW is reviewed periodically. The confirmed increase from HK$5,100 to HK$5,220 is HK$120 (2.35%) for contracts signed from 3 October 2026. It does not automatically change running contracts or predict future wage decisions.

Legal Penalties for Underpaying a Domestic Helper

• Criminal prosecution under the Employment Ordinance
• Fines of up to HK$350,000 per violation
• Potential imprisonment
• Immigration Department notified — future visa applications affected
• Helper can claim back all underpaid wages retrospectively