Chapter 2: Reimbursement of Costs of Documentation

For employer
Q2.1	What expenses should I reimburse my helper under the employment contract?
A	Under the employment contract, you are responsible for expenses incurred by your helper in preparation of documents for taking up employment with you. Normally your helper would have paid such expenses and you should reimburse him/her as soon as possible when he/she produces the receipts. You are advised to ask him/her to acknowledge your reimbursement in writing and keep the receipts for proof of payment. Taking the case of a helper from the Philippines as an example, you may be asked to pay the following : Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) fee (collected by the Philippines Government for processing the exit permit and compulsory attendance of a briefing session for the helper prior to departure) Mandatory insurance Medical examination fee Notarization fee (charged by the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong) Visa fee (charged by the Immigration Department) A sample receipt of reimbursement of expenses to Filipino domestic helpers is at Appendix I.
Q2.2	What expenses should I reimburse my helper if I renew his/her employment contract?
A	You should pay your helper the fees for notarizing the re-engagement contract collected by the relevant consulates in Hong Kong, fees charged by the Immigration Department and other expenses incurred by your helpers for renewing the employment contract as specified in Clause 8 of the standard employment contract.
Q2.3	Should I pay the processing/documentation expenses to my helper who is hired through an employment agency in Hong Kong?
A	It depends on what expenses the employment agency undertakes to pay on your behalf and whether your helper has actually paid any necessary expenses out of his/her own pocket. If you have paid the employment agency any money to cover such expenses, you should ask the agency to furnish you with the relevant receipts for proof of payment.