Hiring a helper direct form the Philippines

Su Mei

Registered User
hi,

I am due with baby #2 in late Oct - I am considering hiring my current helper's younger sister who is currently in the PHL and has never worked in HK before - question :

1. time it takes for HK immigration to process the paper work : any idea how long it takes assuming I undergo to do the paperwork myself (that is not use an agent)?

2. training in HK : I heard that freshies new to HK have to undergo a 2 week govt training, is this true?

thanks in advance for all your input!
 
Hi!

We are currently in the process of hiring a helper from the Philipines and have done it all ourselves without using an agency. Just a few points,

a). Before submitting the paperwork to HK immigration you first have to take it to the Philipines consulate for them to approve the contract. They also need a photo of the person employing the helper, and a sworn declaration which you can do at the consulate. It takes a couple of days for them to process the contracts. They will then keep one.
HOWEVER there seem to be new regulations concerning hiring a helper direct from the Philipines, and if I remember correctly you can no longer hire a helper direct from the Philipines yourself if they have no experience working as a domestic helper.

b). Then you can take everything to HK immigration. It took about 3 wks for our helpers visa to come through, but I did e-mail immigration asking if they could help let me know when it was ready as our helper was urgently needed. This did seem to speed things up a bit.

c). I then sent the visa to our helper straight away. I have no idea how long it will take for the Philipines to let her leave. Some people have told me a week, others four weeks!
Our helper has worked in HK for 8 years already so am hoping that she won't have to do the training course.

Hope that helps!
 
Beky,

My parents just hired a new helper, who has worked in HK before. You have to write a letter to the POEA to exempt her from any training and request them to expedite her paperwork. She does need to pay 1500-2000 pesos for the certificate. Mom's new helper was here within a week.
 
I just did exactly the same, with 2nd baby coming in a couple of months, hired my helper's younger sis who has never worked here before. It took us about 2.5 months, but we had to have the paperwork processed by an agency. We decided to do that cos we wanted someone our helper would get along with or even boss a little when training (if need be). The only thing I have not anticipated is her sis's low level of English, she has been here for 3 weeks or so and I find it hard to communicate with her on what's required. I mean it's hard to explain to someone the importance of washing hands with soap and not to touch sterilised bottles with fingers etc. I never thought I had to tell her these things which I took for granted and did not know until I observed her working. Most of the time, she just looks at me and says "Yes" without knowing what I said. I can tell you that the 2 week training course that she went on is completely useless and is there just for the gov to suck more money from the helpers. Training her myself would not be that hard if only she understands what I am trying to teach, but please do not rely on this rubbish 2 week course that they are required to take.
 
hi all,

thank you so much for your input, it gives me a framework at least now from a timing perspective as I'd like her to arrive before baby is born in late Oct (say 3-4 weeks) but not too early either as she'll be twiddling her thumbs with not much to do!

AndreaY,

gotcha - that's exactly the reason we picked our helper's sister - we originally wanted only to "share" a helper with someone as we aren't keen to have 2 live in helpers but logistically it's hard to work out and our helper isn't keen on sharing a room with a total stranger (and the politics that come with it) and frankly she's too good for us to loose so hiring her sister (who has worked as a domestic helper in Saudi but not in HK) seemed like the best solution! As you mentioned, my helper can boss her around without knowing her feelings will get hurt! Fingers crossed...I hope yours works out too!:gl:
 
AndreaY,

if you don't mind me asking, how much did the maid agency charge to do the paperwork for your #2 helper?
 
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