On 2 October 2026 the Hong Kong government announced that the Minimum Allowable Wage for foreign domestic helpers rises from HK$5,100 to HK$5,220 a month — an increase of 2.35%. It applies to every contract signed on or after 3 October 2026. The minimum food allowance is unchanged at HK$1,236 a month.
What Changes, in Numbers
Before and after the revision
| Signed by 2 Oct 2026 | Signed from 3 Oct 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Allowable Wage | HK$5,100 | HK$5,220 |
| Food allowance (if you do not provide food) | HK$1,236 | HK$1,236 (unchanged) |
| Total in cash with the food allowance | HK$6,336 | HK$6,456 |
| Daily rate (monthly ÷ 30) | HK$170 | HK$174 |
| Wage over a two-year contract | HK$122,400 | HK$125,280 |
At the minimum, the difference is HK$120 a month, or HK$2,880 over a two-year contract. Anything calculated from her wages moves with it: holiday pay, annual leave pay and, when the contract ends, payment in lieu of notice and any severance or long service payment.
Who Is Affected
- Hiring a new helper and not yet signed: a contract signed on or after 3 October must pay at least HK$5,220.
- Signed on or before 2 October at HK$5,100: the contract stands for its full two years. The transitional arrangement only accepts these at the Immigration Department until 30 October 2026, so do not leave the submission to the last week. If you cannot make that date, ask the Immigration Department before re-signing anything.
- Your helper is mid-contract: nothing changes. A revision does not reach back into a contract already signed, and you are not required to top anything up.
- Renewing soon: a renewal is a new contract. If you sign it on or after 3 October, it carries HK$5,220 for the next two years.
Whether — and when — an existing helper’s wage has to go up is covered in full in Do I Have to Raise My Helper’s Salary When the Minimum Wage Goes Up?. For the full breakdown of what you must pay each month, see the Minimum Allowable Wage and food allowance guide.
Before You Sign: A Short Checklist
- Check the date you will actually sign, not the date she starts work. A contract signed on 3 October that starts in December still needs HK$5,220.
- Write at least HK$5,220 into the contract if you sign from 3 October.
- If you do not provide food, add the HK$1,236 food allowance on top — the total in cash is HK$6,456.
- If you signed at HK$5,100 on or before 2 October, get the application to the Immigration Department well before 30 October.
- Update your payroll records so the new wage flows into daily rates and deductions from the first pay period.
How MaidDay Handles the Change
Helpers you add from 3 October default to HK$5,220. For a helper already set up at HK$5,100, MaidDay shows a note rather than an alarm, because only the signing date can say whether that contract is short — a contract signed before 3 October at HK$5,100 is perfectly lawful. A salary below HK$5,100 still triggers the below-minimum warning.
This article is for general reference and is not legal advice. Confirm the figures and the transitional arrangement with the Labour Department or the Immigration Department before signing.
This article is for general reference only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Salary calculations may be inaccurate. Please verify all information against your employment contract, the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57), and professional advice. See our full Disclaimer.