Any experience in bringing Mainland Chinese helper to HK?
- Thread starter vale
- Start date
I don't have any experience in this but I know it's not likely that you can do that leagally.
Most Chinese citizen gets only a 7 day visitor visa to Hongkong on their pass to hongkong. They can only get a two time entry each visa.
I don't think Hongkong goverment is issuing work visa for domestic helpers from China either.
Would be easier to find help in HongKong intead.
Most Chinese citizen gets only a 7 day visitor visa to Hongkong on their pass to hongkong. They can only get a two time entry each visa.
I don't think Hongkong goverment is issuing work visa for domestic helpers from China either.
Would be easier to find help in HongKong intead.
AudreysMom
Registered User
I also would like to bring a mainland Chinese helper to HK. We need a helper who can speak Mandarin. Any mothers successful in doing this? If so please PM me.
There are many mainland migrants in Hong Kong who speak Putonghua and who, theoretically, you can hire as maids, nannies or confinement ladies. But they are not considered "foreign helpers." They are local workers, who already have the right to live in HK. So none of the usual FDH rules apply -- you have to negotiate their pay and perks individually.
Generally, they are much more expensive than FDHs -- something like 10-12K per month, as opposed to 4K per month. There have also been concerns about the quality of their work, as they don't go through the whole training / health check / agency process that the FDHs do. Many are older Chinese ladies who are simply looking for some way to make some cash, sometimes in the short term.
I come from a large HK Chinese family. Despite the language barrier, ALL of my relatives have hired Filipinas or Indonesians to do the heavy lifting in terms of housework and childcare. The thousands of HKD they save is then spent on private Mandarin tutors -- so the Mainland Chinese are used in a more targeted way to teach language. Even Mainland Chinese families here opt for FDHs.
I don't think it's very easy to bring a Mainland helper to HK. There are a million reasons why -- too long to go into here. Mostly it's immigration control -- there are far more Mainlanders who want to come to HK than the city can absorb. HK's been burned by a few scams, like fake marriages or people overstaying tourist visas. HK worries that if they open the floodgates, they won't be able to control migration. Whereas Filipinas / Indonesians are kept on very tight immigration controls. But that's a whole other post....
Generally, they are much more expensive than FDHs -- something like 10-12K per month, as opposed to 4K per month. There have also been concerns about the quality of their work, as they don't go through the whole training / health check / agency process that the FDHs do. Many are older Chinese ladies who are simply looking for some way to make some cash, sometimes in the short term.
I come from a large HK Chinese family. Despite the language barrier, ALL of my relatives have hired Filipinas or Indonesians to do the heavy lifting in terms of housework and childcare. The thousands of HKD they save is then spent on private Mandarin tutors -- so the Mainland Chinese are used in a more targeted way to teach language. Even Mainland Chinese families here opt for FDHs.
I don't think it's very easy to bring a Mainland helper to HK. There are a million reasons why -- too long to go into here. Mostly it's immigration control -- there are far more Mainlanders who want to come to HK than the city can absorb. HK's been burned by a few scams, like fake marriages or people overstaying tourist visas. HK worries that if they open the floodgates, they won't be able to control migration. Whereas Filipinas / Indonesians are kept on very tight immigration controls. But that's a whole other post....
Straight from the horse's mouth! China Daily says that mainland domestic workers are not allowed to migrate to HK to work...
"The conspicuous absence of maids from the mainland reflects a stringent effort to avert a possible flood of migrants disguising themselves as domestic helpers. There is also a higher chance, compared to maids hired from non-Chinese sources, of their deciding to get married to a Hong Kong permanent resident and then to stay in Hong Kong for good....
...A recent City Forum hosted by RTHK had panelists expressing worry about family problems ensuing from maids hired from the mainland. Wives are worried that mainland domestic helpers might become mistresses to their husbands."
You've got to love that last bit. Way to stereotype! (China Daily is the mainland's government newspaper)
"The conspicuous absence of maids from the mainland reflects a stringent effort to avert a possible flood of migrants disguising themselves as domestic helpers. There is also a higher chance, compared to maids hired from non-Chinese sources, of their deciding to get married to a Hong Kong permanent resident and then to stay in Hong Kong for good....
...A recent City Forum hosted by RTHK had panelists expressing worry about family problems ensuing from maids hired from the mainland. Wives are worried that mainland domestic helpers might become mistresses to their husbands."
You've got to love that last bit. Way to stereotype! (China Daily is the mainland's government newspaper)
OK, here's some actual useful advice. Here is the HK government link to help you hire a local (meaning Chinese) helper
http://www.erb.org/smartliving/en/master.php
It states: "The market hourly rate for a part-time home and health care helper is about $50-$70."
That adds up to 10,000-11,000 per month, for a live-out, 40-hour-a-week helper.
http://www.erb.org/smartliving/en/master.php
It states: "The market hourly rate for a part-time home and health care helper is about $50-$70."
That adds up to 10,000-11,000 per month, for a live-out, 40-hour-a-week helper.
Thank you so much for your answers. I had no idea.
As far as you know, can Mainlanders get work permit only as professionals? Is not possible to hire them as office clerks, waitress...?
I have seen many people in HK from Mainland China and they seem to be working in HK. Are they illegal or am I missing something?
Another way around it could be to get a longer tourist visa. Have you heard of this kind of visa or the only one is the double entry tourist visa for a total stay of 14 days?
Thanks!
Valentina
As far as you know, can Mainlanders get work permit only as professionals? Is not possible to hire them as office clerks, waitress...?
I have seen many people in HK from Mainland China and they seem to be working in HK. Are they illegal or am I missing something?
Another way around it could be to get a longer tourist visa. Have you heard of this kind of visa or the only one is the double entry tourist visa for a total stay of 14 days?
Thanks!
Valentina
carang
Registered User
no, they have relocated here to live with family and are NOT here on work permits. it is VERY difficult for a mainlander to migrate to hk and there is a VERY long waiting list.
immigration will not in any way allow you to bring your mainland helper to hk. it may even be difficult for her to obtain a visitor visa.
immigration will not in any way allow you to bring your mainland helper to hk. it may even be difficult for her to obtain a visitor visa.
Carang is right. There are some mainland migrants, but it's complicated -- many are Southern Chinese with family roots here. Then there's whole issue of quotas, cross-border marriages, etc.
Any reason you wouldn't just hire a FDH, and then a Mandarin tutor? Are you very attached to this one person?
I don't think the tourist visa thing is a good idea. She'd be in big trouble if she was caught. Plus, would she commute back and forth to Guangdong or something? Coming from SH, she might feel really lost.
Any reason you wouldn't just hire a FDH, and then a Mandarin tutor? Are you very attached to this one person?
I don't think the tourist visa thing is a good idea. She'd be in big trouble if she was caught. Plus, would she commute back and forth to Guangdong or something? Coming from SH, she might feel really lost.
I guess I have to give up. Many many thanks for all your feedbacks.
Yes, we are very attached to her. She is the perfect helper and most importantly she is an amazing person. The decision to move back to HK was very sudden and with a toddler and a newborn I was counting on the help of someone I trust. Plus I underestimated the immigration issue and we already made a lot of plans with her.. She was counting on it. Luckily, on my side, in HK is not that hard to find a good domestic helper. A Mandarin tutor is something I will consider but it sounds a bit forced to have someone teaching Mandarin to such a small kid. Playing with a Mandarin speaking helper is just playing, seeing a tutor is more like studying and I don't like to put such a pressure on a toddler.. but I guess there are ways to make it fun. Maybe I will ask you all about that when the time comes. Now we need to find a place, a kindergarten ..and a maid of course!
Yes, we are very attached to her. She is the perfect helper and most importantly she is an amazing person. The decision to move back to HK was very sudden and with a toddler and a newborn I was counting on the help of someone I trust. Plus I underestimated the immigration issue and we already made a lot of plans with her.. She was counting on it. Luckily, on my side, in HK is not that hard to find a good domestic helper. A Mandarin tutor is something I will consider but it sounds a bit forced to have someone teaching Mandarin to such a small kid. Playing with a Mandarin speaking helper is just playing, seeing a tutor is more like studying and I don't like to put such a pressure on a toddler.. but I guess there are ways to make it fun. Maybe I will ask you all about that when the time comes. Now we need to find a place, a kindergarten ..and a maid of course!
There is no shortage of Mandarin-language playgroups, kids activities, etc. in HK.
You can also just get a Mandarin-speaking babysitter in to play.
For ex, our office secretary hired one of our young expat interns as a PT "English-speaking playmate" as she felt that formal tutoring would be too much for her young child.
And there is also no shortage of good, professional English-speaking helpers. But do note that you should start the hiring process 2+ months in advance. I recommend the Arrow agency.
You can also just get a Mandarin-speaking babysitter in to play.
For ex, our office secretary hired one of our young expat interns as a PT "English-speaking playmate" as she felt that formal tutoring would be too much for her young child.
And there is also no shortage of good, professional English-speaking helpers. But do note that you should start the hiring process 2+ months in advance. I recommend the Arrow agency.
It's too bad about your SH helper. Many people want to come here, but very few know how stringent the immigration laws are, since the mainland media keeps emphasizing how HK is part of China now.
The laws are understandable, though -- it's a physically small city and can only absorb a tiny percentage of people from China.
The laws are understandable, though -- it's a physically small city and can only absorb a tiny percentage of people from China.