Helper Insurance Helps Employers Make the Right Hire, Worry-Free

According to the most recent survey released by the government, there are approximately 340,000 domestic helpers in Hong Kong. And now, with the pandemic easing and border policies returning to normality, employers no longer need to deal with complicated procedures and bear the additional costs, as they did during the period of enforced quarantine.

As a result, there is a growing demand for domestic helpers who can take care of children or the elderly and manage housework for local employers. In light of this, the number of domestic helpers in Hong Kong is set to gradually increase. First-time employers might be confused about insurance products relevant to them, while current employers might want to find out more about helper insurance to make better decisions and protect their interests.

According to the Labour Department’s Employees' Compensation Ordinance, employers in Hong Kong are obliged to purchase basic employee compensation insurance for their domestic helpers. The regulation also requires employers to provide medical treatment, including fees for diagnosis, hospitalisation and emergency dental procedures, among others.

Nonetheless, employee compensation insurance only protects employers from legal liabilities, without any coverage for medical fees from illnesses. For this reason, taking out comprehensive helper insurance will provide well-rounded medical coverage for medical treatment from a clinic, Chinese medical practitioner, surgery, hospitalisation, dental care, physiotherapy and more. If there is service interruption for more than one day in the event of hospitalisation or surgery, the employer will also receive compensation. Having coverage greatly reduces the potential financial liabilities of employers. 

Employment relationships are built on trust, and if losses are incurred through dishonesty or fraud, you are right to seek redress. Helper insurance available on the market covers employers for monetary losses caused by domestic helpers’ fraudulent or dishonest conduct, including unauthorised telephone charges and the replacement and installation cost of a new main door lock or metal gate lock following the termination of employment due to the theft or other acts of dishonesty. Employers are also covered for medical expenses, including trauma counselling if a domestic helper’s intentional malicious behaviour causes bodily injury to a family member.

Staff turnover is normal when unfortunate incidents involving domestic helpers’ fraudulent and malicious behaviour occur. If a new domestic helper cannot be hired immediately, insurance on the market will automatically extend the protection period of the policy. After hiring a new domestic helper, some insurance companies on the market also accommodate updating the name of the insured domestic helper for free and for unlimited times so that employers do not need to purchase insurance again, adding convenience and speed to the process.

To help policyholders better manage their insurance policies and provide comprehensive protection, some plans allow policyholders to add domestic helper protection when purchasing home insurance. This way, household needs are covered with just one policy. The coverage includes household belongings, renovation, window glass damage during typhoons, personal legal liability, online shopping, mobile devices, domestic workers, medical insurance and more.

Domestic helpers provide an essential service in Hong Kong, enabling us to devote more time to our careers and loved ones. Many of us also treat domestic helpers like family members. Purchasing helper insurance not only provides protection for their physical health but also reduces any potential financial burden caused by steep medical expenses in the future. Choosing the right insurance plan will make life easier, better and happier for all.