Hiring Domestic Helper

You will need

• Proof of residence Copy of the your last 3 months’ salary slips OR 3 months’ bank statements OR a letter from your employer guaranteeing that you make a certain amount each year

You will also need the following information:

• The approximate size of your home
• The approximate size of the maid’s quarter
• The number of bedrooms in your home (excluding the maid’s quarter)
• The employer's nationality
• Average monthly household income
• The employer's phone number & email address
• The FULL name, year of birth and HKID (if applicable) of the family members residing in your home
• The salary that you agreed upon with the helper

You will also need 650HKD for processing fees. Points to bear in mind:

• The Filipina (or Thai) woman’s position in Hong Kong is a vulnerable one. They usually pay (or borrow) a king’s ransom in bribes and taxes to get out of the Philippines and come here to work. Once in Hong Kong, they are subject to the whim of their employer, who has the power to fire them and make it virtually impossible for them to get another job. They are allowed two weeks to find another job in Hong Kong before the Immigration Department forces them to return to the Philippines usually penniless and often in debt.
• Naturally, this makes the process of choosing a new employer a very serious endeavour for them. The helper will look for a calmness and consistency in your manner and a willingness on your part to treat them kindly. The size of your house or apartment, the number of children you have, and their room will also be factors. Also, don’t be surprised if she shows up with a friend in tow for the interview. They often bring along a friend for moral support and as a second opinion. Make sure, however, the person you are interviewing actually does most of the talking.
• Before the interview, take sufficient time to clearly understand your own needs, and make as complete a list as possible of what specific skills you require. Determine what is more important: A clean house? Spending time with the children? Excellent cooking skills? Make sure these things are made clear before you hire a helper. Then periodically review your expectations with your helper. In our experience, most problems arise as a result of poor communication and unclear goals. A good way to over come this is to write daily, weekly and monthly “to do” lists for your helpers.

Issues to Consider at the Interview

• Age – Depending on the age of your children, you may want to consider getting a younger helper who can “keep up” with them. On the other hand, older helpers may have more childcare experience.
• Children – What is their past experience with children? What were their ages? Were there any special needs involved? Get them to give you specific instances and to explain what special skills this child required.
• Common Sense – Look for someone who thinks for herself – A helper must be able to deal with the unpredictable domestic crisis – large and small – when it occurs. If she can’t work without constant direction, you will go crazy. How do you judge in a half-hour interview? Don’t ask “what if…” questions. Ask her if she can tell you of an instance where her employer asked her to do something and she discovered there was a problem. How did she solve it? Ask her was there an instance where her employer was out or unreachable and there was a problem? What did she do?
• Culinary Skills – If cooking is your priority, have them cook something at the interview. Do they cook Western and Asian dishes? Are you planning to do a lot of entertaining at home? If so, do you require your helper to cater such events or serve food ordered from catering companies? Ask the applicant what dishes they cook the best or what is their favorite meal to prepare.
• Emergency Situations- What would they do in an emergency? Give them a situation, such as, the child gets scalded with hot water while the parents are away. What would they do? Would she call anyone, does she have first aid experience, would she take the child to the hospital, etc.
• Extra Skills – Do they have special skills, such as sewing, nursing, accounting, etc.? Are there any special needs that you and your family require?
• Good References – This cannot be stressed too strongly. If you are told the employer has already left Hong Kong, get an overseas phone number for them and call it. If she doesn’t have the number, ask for the name and number of an employer’s friend who was in a position to have seen the helper at work. A good indication of a desirable helper is a person who has stayed with one family long term, completing more than one term of contract with that family.
• Length of Stay (Past and Future) – How long have they been here? How much longer are they going to stay in Hong Kong? Do they have plans to go back home or to move to another country? Someone who has been here for a period of time will know her way around, where the markets and stores are, and the right buses to take. This can be a real asset if you are new to Hong Kong yourself.
• Pets – Has she cared for them before? She may never have cared for them before and might even fear them.
• Travel – Are they willing to travel with the family on home leave?