(Updated on 12 February 2026)
Your domestic helper has been working for you for a year. Now time for her to claim her annual leave and take some well-deserved holidays.
In Hong Kong, foreign domestic helpers are entitled to leaves under the Employment Ordinance, including rest days, statutory holidays, and paid annual leave.
How many annual leave days is your domestic helper entitled to?
The Labour Department grants Hong Kong domestic helpers annual leave after they have been working with the same employer for 12 months. The number of days off increases progressively from 7 to a maximum of 14 days as follows:
| Years of Service | Annual Leave Entitlement |
| 1 to 2 Years | 7 Days per year |
| 3 Years | 8 Days |
| 4 Years | 9 Days |
| 5 Years | 10 Days |
| 6 Years | 11 Days |
| 7 Years | 12 Days |
| 8 Years | 13 Days |
| 9+ Years | 14 Days (Maximum) |
What is the difference between the annual leave and the vacation leave?
At the end of each contract, the employer must provide the domestic helper with a vacation leave (also called “home leave”) of at least 7 days on top of the annual leave while the domestic helper waits for his/her new visa.
Whether this is paid or unpaid vacation leave depends on the terms agreed upon in Clause 13 of the Standard Employment Contract. If employers opted for unpaid vacation leave at the time of signing the contracts, they may decide to give their domestic helper paid leave, but if you opted for paid vacation, you must follow this as stated in the contract and can’t change your mind.
In case of vacation leave, some employers ask their domestic helpers to take a medical checkup before flying back to Hong Kong.
When can the domestic helper take her annual leave?
A domestic helper shall take his/her paid annual leave to which he/she is entitled within the following period of 12 months.
The domestic helper and the employer must have a mutual agreement on the dates of the annual leave, and the days off must be confirmed by written notice to the domestic helper at least 14 days in advance.
The annual leave letter should include the name of the employer, the name of the domestic helper, dates of departure from Hong Kong and return in Hong Kong. Failure to return will lead to breaking the contract without notice.
Remember to always keep a proper report of your domestic helper’s days off and payments to avoid any conflict.
What if a rest day or statutory holiday happens during the annual leave?
Any rest day or statutory holiday falling within the period of annual leave will be counted as annual leave. You must give your domestic helper another rest day or holiday.
Can an employer make payment to a domestic helper in lieu of annual leave?
An employer should not include in an employment contract payment of wages in lieu of any annual leave days. However, the law allows an employee to choose to accept payment in lieu of that part of his leave entitlement which exceeds 10 days.
For example, if a domestic helper an employee who is entitled to 12 days’ annual leave can take 10 days’ leave and accept payment of the equivalent wages for the 2 days’ leave.