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Holiday Policy for Amahs in HK

  1. #1
    Swoon's Avatar
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    Holiday Policy for Amahs in HK

    Does anyone know how many official leave days per annum a full-time amah is legally entitled to per year?

    Also, do employers have the right not to "allow" the holidays to be taken until after the first year of the contract is completed?

    Lastly, how do I find out which statutory holidays are the official ones that amahs can take off?

    Reason for questions--we allowed our amah to take some leave days after working 3 months for us. She did not return back on the day she promised and did not call. We couldn't reach her and had no idea what was happening. She finally called three days past her original return date and said she went somewhere too remote to call. She breached our trust, I wanted to sack her, but it was day before my return to work from maternity leave. She's still with us because she's good with the baby but we want to withhold any further leave days until the point it is legally entitled. So we need to make sure we're following legal policy.


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    Bzee,

    A domestic helper should be given 7 days Paid Annual Leave after serving for 1 year. The Paid Annual Leave entitlement increases with the year of service as follows:

    2 Y - 7 Days
    3 Y -8 Days
    4 Y - 9 Days

    However it is up to the employer to grant the annual leave after a year. Most helpers prefer to take it after completing their 2 year contract.

    Helpers are also entitled to 12 statutory holidays. For 2003 these are: (I've also added these to the GeoBaby calendar to remind everyone)

    The first day of January
    the day preceding the Luner New Year's Day (31 January) *
    Lunar New Year's Day (1 February)
    the third day of Lunar New Year (3 February)
    Ching Ming Festival (5 April)
    Labour Day (1 May)
    Tuen Ng Festival (4 June)
    Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (1 July)
    the day following Chinese Mid- Autumn Festival (12 September)
    National Day (1 October)
    Chung Yeung Festival (4 October)
    Chinese Winter Solstice Festival (22 December) or Christmas Day (25 December)(at the option of the employer)
    * It is because the second day of the Lunar New Year in 2003 falls on a Sunday.

    More info on statutory holidays here:

    http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/faq/cap57f.htm

    Founded GeoBaby in 2002

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    Smile

    Thank you so much Rani. This is very helpful!


  4. #4
    Jenny is offline Registered User
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    Rani, isn't the 7 paid annual leave days per year? So after 2 years, your helper is entitled to 14 paid annual leave days? I can't seem to find the info on the internet!


  5. #5
    rani's Avatar
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    More info here on Annual Leave here
    http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/faq/cap57i.htm

    Its 7 days total for 2 years.

    Last edited by rani; 10-08-2003 at 02:34 PM.
    Founded GeoBaby in 2002

  6. #6
    ali
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    holidays

    THanks for posting that link, as I've always wondered about the holiday leave as well. However, from reading the section on the govt. site it's pretty clear that helpers are entitled to 7 days after 1st year, and an additional 7 days after 2 years (not 7 days in total for 2 years) Isn't it?? Or am i missing something? I need to clear this up for myself too!!


  7. #7
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    Oh no! I read it as 7 days total.

    I think its time to call in an expert.

    Founded GeoBaby in 2002

  8. #8
    ali
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    Wink

    Good idea! I'd like to know what my obligations are once and for all. Thanks!


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