HELPER: live-in vs non live-in

[shri]

>> i saw this too when looking at homes. is that really normal?

It is not unusual for 5-6 people to share a 300 sq ft room in a housing estate. This includes the helper. Don't, for a second think that expats with 3-4 bedroom apartments are in the majority when it comes to hiring helpers.

[mamamia]

you may hire a local helper,which is about $50/hour.
Smart Home Professional Services Centre

there are also "part-time" (aka illegal) FDH around, i'm ... no i mean my friend is using one.

[HowardCoombs]

so is it illegal to hire a person to help you in your home life, who is not on a DH visa and not a HK local (i.e. a Chinese mainlander or SE asian?)

I'll repeat my earlier answer, their nationality is irrelevant. Their visa status is the important point.
This Chinese/SEasian you want to hire : What type of visa do they have? the answer to that question will determine whether they would be legal or illegal.

HC

[shri]

They could be on a dependant visa or have a permanent ID ... does not have to be a "DH visa".

[BenderBends]

>> i saw this too when looking at homes. is that really normal?

It is not unusual for 5-6 people to share a 300 sq ft room in a housing estate. This includes the helper. Don't, for a second think that expats with 3-4 bedroom apartments are in the majority when it comes to hiring helpers.

no..i didnt think that the way expats live are in the majority here. that being said, having 2 kids the same age/sex share a room is one thing. having a grown woman/man share a room with a young child is another thing. i dont mean that in a pedo-bear way...i just mean different hours of sleep time, different "lust" needs, different forms of entertainment....etc

[dumbdonkey]

In Hong Kong, it is illegal to hire a helper (DH visa) and have them live out. Many people still do it, but if you get caught you will be fined and there is a high likelyhood that your helper will get fined and/or jailed and/or deported. All it takes is 1 person that is jealous of her to report her to the authorities.

If you must have live out, you only have 2 choices:
1) hire someone illegally and accept the risks that go with it. You will find many DHs will not accept this as it presents a big risk to them.
2) find someone who has a visa that is not a DH visa. This is a bit hard to do and would be a lot more expensive.

HC

how do they enforce this? say our helper is live in but she is allow to do whatever she wants at her time off. i cant chain her to her room.

[BenderBends]

I'll repeat my earlier answer, their nationality is irrelevant. Their visa status is the important point.
This Chinese/SEasian you want to hire : What type of visa do they have? the answer to that question will determine whether they would be legal or illegal.

HC

i didnt mean to imply nationality had implications...i just figured a non HK local would be cheaper, but would require some type of visa or entrance scheme. but depending on how they are here they might not be legal to work as a DH if not on a DH visa.

So really i was asking where to find a person who is not a HK local, but able to work as a DH and not live in home.

[shri]

DD: All it takes is a complaint from another jealous / evil minded helper in your building and Immd will investigate. I'm sure "live in" is well defined and seriously do you actually expect that they would want you to chain her to the room? I mean, seriously???

Or wait, are you just trying to make a petty point by using a hyperbole?

[HowardCoombs]

how do they enforce this? say our helper is live in but she is allow to do whatever she wants at her time off. i cant chain her to her room.

Moving around is perfectly fine. Sleeping at friends places are also fine. 1 or 2 or 3 days away is also fine.
If/when there is a complaint, IMMD will pay a visit to your home. If you cannot convince them that the helper lives there full time (room, clothes etc), you and the helper will be in trouble.

HC

[Mrs Koala]

Why don;t you look in GEO classified? ???