Author
Bowtie Team
Updated on
2025-07-10
Disclaimer: This article is translated with the assistance of AI.
Struggling with a shortage of domestic helpers during the pandemic? Hiring a part-time helper could be your solution! With various platforms to match the right assistant, ease the stress of busy city life. Bowtie breaks down hourly rates, monthly budgets, and everything you need to know about domestic helper insurance, plus a comparison of available plans.
Hourly Rates for Domestic Helpers
There are numerous domestic helper platforms in the market offering services, with fees varying based on the scope of work, location, and other factors.
| Hourly Service Platform | Hourly Rate | Minimum Service Hours | Additional Charges |
| Evercare | Starting from $118 per hour | 2 hours | Offers hourly elderly care and home care services, including escorting to medical appointments, home nursing, or health aide services. Charges are hourly and may include extra fees for night shifts or public holidays. Pricing also depends on the qualification level of the required caregiver. |
| LazyApp | $108-$120 (varies based on monthly subscription plan) | 3 hours | Additional charges apply for non-standard service hours and certain remote areas (standard service hours: Monday to Sunday, 09:00 to 18:00) |
| Toby | $109-$133 (varies based on monthly subscription plan) | 3 hours | Special rates for Sundays Additional charges for non-standard service hours (standard service hours: Monday to Sunday, 09:00-18:00) |
| OneClick | Kowloon & New Territories: Basic 3 hours $390 (additional $120 per hour thereafter)
Hong Kong Island & designated areas: Basic 3 hours $450 (additional $140 per hour thereafter) |
3 hours | Elderly Escort Service : Accompanying elderly or mobility-impaired individuals to hospitals or clinics for follow-ups, discharge, or outings (basic 3-hour fee is $285, with an additional $85 per hour thereafter) |
| Elite Home Care Services | Domestic Helper Regular Cleaning:
$145 – 180 (New Territories & Kowloon); $165 – 200 (Hong Kong Island) |
3 hours | Additional charges apply for certain remote areas (e.g., Southern District, The Peak, Mid-Levels, Sai Kung, Tung Chung, Ma Wan, Kam Tin, near Gold Coast on Castle Peak Road, standalone houses) |
| Happy Life Station | $100 to $130 | 3 hours | Transportation allowance required for work in remote areas on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays |
What Are the Duties of a Domestic Helper?
Domestic helpers assist employers with daily household chores, including cooking, cleaning, and caring for family members. Their cleaning responsibilities typically cover the kitchen, bathroom, living and dining areas, and bedrooms. This includes cleaning kitchen appliances like refrigerators, stoves, exhaust fans, range hoods, and tiles; bathroom fixtures such as toilets, bathtubs, and sinks; as well as dusting furniture, vacuuming, mopping floors, tidying up the home, changing bed linens, and doing laundry and ironing.
Is Domestic Helper Insurance Necessary? How to Choose the Right One?
Under Section 40 of the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, all employers are required to purchase Employees’ Compensation Insurance to cover their legal liabilities (including under common law). Failure to do so means employers are not permitted to hire employees for any work, regardless of contract duration, working hours, or whether the role is full-time, part-time, permanent, or temporary.
Therefore, employers must purchase Employees’ Compensation Insurance for part-time local domestic helpers. Before buying a policy, employers should carefully review the coverage scope. If an incident falls outside the coverage, claims will not be processed. “Personal Accident Insurance” protects domestic helpers or hourly workers from death or bodily injury caused by accidents during work, while “Third-Party Liability Insurance” covers losses due to negligence by the helper that results in bodily injury or property damage to a third party, for which the employer or helper is legally liable as determined by a court ruling.
| Insurance Company | Employer’s Legal Liability Coverage | Domestic Helper Personal Accident Coverage | Domestic Helper Personal Liability Coverage | Domestic Helper Personal Property Coverage |
| Insurance Company C | $100,000,000 per incident | Not applicable | $50,000 per policy period | Not applicable |
| Insurance Company H | HK$100,000,000 per incident | Compensation as per Employees’ Compensation Ordinance* | Compensation as per Employees’ Compensation Ordinance* | Compensation as per Employees’ Compensation Ordinance* |
| Insurance Company B | Up to HK$100,000,000 | Up to HK$150,000 | Up to HK$200,000 | Not applicable |
| Insurance Company D | Up to HK$100,000,000 | Up to HK$20,000 | Up to HK$50,000 | Not applicable |
| Insurance Company A | $100,000,000 per incident | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
- * Compensation amount will be calculated based on the age and income of the part-time domestic helper.
Budgeting for Hiring a Domestic Helper in HK
Hiring a domestic helper involves more than just paying an hourly wage. There are additional costs to consider:
Extra Fees Charged by Some Companies
Most companies list conditions for additional fees, such as for remote areas or special occasions. Be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully.
- Transportation Costs
Generally, if the service location is remote or not near an MTR station, different platforms may charge a specified surcharge as a transportation allowance for the domestic helper.
- Cleaning Supplies
Employers must provide basic cleaning tools for domestic helpers, including vacuum cleaners, mops, brooms, buckets, extendable window cleaning poles, towels, scouring pads, and basic cleaning agents. Helpers may also purchase small quantities of cleaning supplies on behalf of the employer and be reimbursed with receipts.
- Insurance
Regardless of whether it’s a contract-based, full-time, part-time, long-term, or temporary arrangement, employers are required to purchase employees’ compensation insurance for hired part-time local domestic helpers or hourly workers.
How to Hire a Domestic Helper in Hong Kong?
There are numerous online platforms for matching domestic helpers, making it convenient and quick for employers to hire hourly workers. The table below compares several platforms and hiring methods:
| Domestic Helper Matching Platform | Hiring Method |
| Evercare | Fill out a simple form on the website or contact instantly via WhatsApp. A care specialist will get in touch within 24 hours. |
| LazyApp | Enter your address and home size on the official website, answer a series of relevant questions based on your needs, and the platform will match you with a suitable helper. |
| Toby | On the official website or by downloading the app, input your address, unit size, service date, |
| OneClick | Click “Contact Us” on the official website to connect with platform staff via WhatsApp instantly. |
| Elite Home Care Services | Leave your personal details on the official website or use the “Instant Chat” feature. Staff will respond promptly and match you with a suitable helper. |
| LOHAS Station | Employers can download the mobile app to instantly receive system-matched lists, view helper resumes, and directly contact helpers by phone to discuss work arrangements. |
Domestic Helper FAQs in Hong Kong
1. Can I hire a domestic helper on a monthly basis?
Yes, you can hire a domestic helper on a monthly basis. However, if they work more than 20 days a month, their fees may be calculated as a monthly salary, and they are also entitled to labor holidays and rest days.
2. What should I consider when hiring a domestic helper?
Hiring a domestic helper comes with several considerations. Beyond protecting the helper, employers should also safeguard their home and manage their belongings properly:
- Provide clear instructions, specifying areas to clean and restricted zones.
- Secure personal belongings in the house and carefully store fragile or valuable items.
- During pandemics, you may request the helper to take a rapid test before arriving and wear a mask while working to prevent cross-infection.
- Before hiring a domestic helper for home cleaning, check their service experience and training qualifications, as these may affect both the cost and quality of service.
- Since hiring a domestic helper involves an employer-employee relationship, under Hong Kong law, employers must purchase insurance for part-time or domestic helpers. Without it, any accidents could result in uncovered compensation and legal liabilities.
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