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Hong Kong’s Labour Department currently lists the Minimum Allowable Wage for foreign domestic helpers at HK$5,100 a month, applicable to employment contracts signed on or after 30 September 2025.
The government announced the rate on 29 September 2025, raising the monthly minimum by HK$110, or 2.2%, from HK$4,990. The effective date was Tuesday, 30 September—not an upcoming Saturday. Government announcement
Employers must also provide free food or pay a food allowance of at least HK$1,236 a month. The allowance remained unchanged in that review. Where an employer pays the allowance instead of providing food, the minimum wage and food allowance together total HK$6,336 a month.
The applicable wage floor depends on when the contract was signed. Helpers should receive the salary stated in their Standard Employment Contract, and employers must not unilaterally reduce pay or make a private agreement to pay below the applicable minimum.
For households hiring a helper or renewing a contract, checking the signing date, agreed salary and food arrangement helps establish the correct terms. The Labour Department’s official guidance for employers and helpers sets out the requirements.
