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Comprehensive Domestic Helper Insurance protects both employer and helper
Foreign domestic helpers are part of many families in Hong Kong. Despite the recent easing of the epidemic locally, employers are concerned about helpers contracting COVID-19 and any related legal liability. Employers of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong are legally required to purchase employees’ compensation insurance for them. Does such insurance provide adequate protection? What areas should employers pay attention to?
According to Hong Kong's Employees' Compensation Ordinance (Cap 282), employers are obliged to purchase employee compensation insurance for their employees, including domestic helpers hired from overseas. The regulation also requires employers to provide free medical treatment, including fees for diagnosis, hospitalisation and emergency dental procedures, regardless of whether the illness or injury is work related. Yet, employee compensation insurance only protects employers from legal liabilities arising from work injuries, without any coverage for medical fees from illnesses. As such, employers who would like their domestic helpers to receive well rounded protection should purchase comprehensive domestic helper insurance, which fills the gaps in employee compensation insurance and reduces potential financial liabilities.
Comprehensive domestic helper insurance primarily provides coverage for medical treatment from a clinic, Chinese medical practitioner and physiotherapist for illnesses or injuries. There are also provisions for surgery and hospitalisation, including room and board charges, surgeon's fees, anaesthetist's fees and others. As well, dental expenses are covered by comprehensive domestic helper insurance. If service interruption results from the hospitalisation of a domestic helper, the employer will receive compensation. If a domestic helper is repatriated due to injury, illness or death, domestic helper insurance will cover the cost of repatriation and the expenses for arranging a replacement helper.
Besides medical expenses, most comprehensive domestic helper insurance also include fidelity guarantee, which means that the employer can seek compensation from the policy for pecuniary loss caused by theft, fraud or dishonesty committed by the domestic helper. Coverage includes unauthorised telephone charges and replacement and installation cost of main door lock or metal gate lock following the termination of employment due to the discovery of theft or other acts of infidelity.
When choosing comprehensive domestic helper insurance, employers should compare the premium, payable benefits and scope of coverage, as well as applicable deductibles and terms and conditions. For instance, some policies do not cover outpatient treatments by Chinese medical practitioners or physiotherapists; whereas some policies treat hospitalisation charges on an itemised basis and the covered amounts can vary greatly. Employers should thus select an insurance plan that best fits their needs.
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