{"id":12139,"date":"2023-09-06T08:48:35","date_gmt":"2023-09-06T00:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/domestic-helper\/severance-payment-long-service-payment\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T23:16:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T15:16:11","slug":"severance-payment-long-service-payment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/severance-payment-long-service-payment\/","title":{"rendered":"Long Service Payment and Severance Payment for Domestic Helper"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>(Updated on 20 November 2025 )<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/severance-payment-long-service-payment\/#What_is_domestic_helper_long_service_payment\" >What is domestic helper long service payment?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/severance-payment-long-service-payment\/#What_is_Domestic_helper_severance_payment\" >What is Domestic helper severance payment?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/severance-payment-long-service-payment\/#How_are_long_service_payment_and_severance_payment_calculated\" >How are long service payment and severance payment calculated?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/severance-payment-long-service-payment\/#Last_month_wages_x_23_x_reckonable_years_of_service\" >[(Last month wages x 2\/3) x reckonable years of service]<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/severance-payment-long-service-payment\/#Can_a_helper_be_entitled_to_both_long_service_payment_and_severance_payment\" >Can a helper be entitled to both long service payment and severance payment?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/severance-payment-long-service-payment\/#Payment_of_Long_Service_Payment\" >Payment of Long Service Payment<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/severance-payment-long-service-payment\/#Offences_and_Penalties\" >Offences and Penalties<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/severance-payment-long-service-payment\/#Payment_of_Severance_Payment\" >Payment of Severance Payment<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/severance-payment-long-service-payment\/#Offences_and_Penalties-2\" >Offences and Penalties<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/severance-payment-long-service-payment\/#Final_Thoughts\" >Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/severance-payment-long-service-payment\/#Need_A_New_Helper\" >Need A New Helper?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/severance-payment-long-service-payment\/#You_might_also_be_interested_in\" >You might also be interested in:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_domestic_helper_long_service_payment\"><\/span>What is domestic helper long service payment?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Long service payment is the amount you are legally bound to pay to your helper if he\/she has worked for you for a longer period of time.<\/p>\n<p>You should pay long service payment to the helper if he\/she has worked continuously for <strong>not less than 5 years<\/strong>, and :<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>is dismissed or the contract is not being renewed* by reason <strong>other than summary dismissal due to his\/her serious <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.helperchoice.com\/domestic-helper-lack-initiative\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">misconduct <\/a>or redundancy<\/strong>;<\/li>\n<li>is certified by a registered medical practitioner or a registered Chinese medicine practitioner as being <strong>permanently unfit for the present job<\/strong> and he\/she resigns;<\/li>\n<li><strong>aged 65 or above<\/strong> and he\/she resigns on the ground of old age; or<\/li>\n<li>dies in service.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>*If you have offered in writing to renew the contract or re-engage the helper under a new contract <strong>not less than 7 days <\/strong>before the expiry of the contract, but the helper has unreasonably refused the offer, the helper is not eligible for long service payment.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Domestic_helper_severance_payment\"><\/span>What is Domestic helper severance payment?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Severance payment is the amount you are legally required to pay if you decide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/domestic-helper\/termination\">terminate your helper<\/a> prior to the expiry of the employment contract.<\/p>\n<p>You should pay severance payment to the helper if:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the helper is <strong>dismissed<\/strong> or <strong>the contract is not being renewed* by reason of redundancy<\/strong>; and<\/li>\n<li>the helper has <strong>not less than 24 months<\/strong> of employment with the same employer immediately prior to the termination.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>*If the employer has offered in writing to renew the contract or re-engage the helper under a new contract <strong>not less than 7 days<\/strong> before the expiry of the contract, but the helper has unreasonably refused the offer, the helper is not eligible for severance payment.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_are_long_service_payment_and_severance_payment_calculated\"><\/span>How are long service payment and severance payment calculated?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The following formula applies to the calculation of <strong>both long service payment and severance payment <\/strong>:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Last_month_wages_x_23_x_reckonable_years_of_service\"><\/span><strong>[(Last month wages x 2\/3) x reckonable years of service] <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Note that service of an incomplete year should be calculated on a pro-rata basis.<\/p>\n<p>For details of the calculation of long service payment or severance payment, please refer to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.labour.gov.hk\/eng\/public\/wcp\/ConciseGuide\/EO_guide_full.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wplink-edit=\"true\">\u201cA Concise Guide to the Employment Ordinance\u201d.<\/a> Copies of the Guide can be obtained at the branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the homepage of the Labour Department.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_a_helper_be_entitled_to_both_long_service_payment_and_severance_payment\"><\/span>Can a helper be entitled to both long service payment and severance payment?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>No.<\/strong> A helper will not be simultaneously entitled to both long service payment and severance payment. A helper dismissed by reason of redundancy is entitled to severance payment but not long service payment.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/yoopies-cms2fbe9a1405-2a1b-4a1d-8f96-039bd79c4701-domestichelperplacementfeeagencyfee.jpg\" alt=\"Long Service Payment and Severance Payment for Domestic Helper | HelperChoice | An Ethical Maid Agency\" \/>\n<figcaption>Long Service Payment and Severance Payment for Domestic Helper | HelperChoice | An Ethical Maid Agency<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Payment_of_Long_Service_Payment\"><\/span>Payment of Long Service Payment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Long service payment should be paid to your helper <strong>within 7 days<\/strong> after the date of termination of the employment contract.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Offences_and_Penalties\"><\/span>Offences and Penalties<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Failing to provide long service payment to your helper without reasonable excuse will result in you being liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to <strong>a fine of $350,000<\/strong> and to <strong>imprisonment for 3 years<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Payment_of_Severance_Payment\"><\/span>Payment of Severance Payment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Domestic helpers should serve a written notice to you to claim for severance payment <strong>within 3 months<\/strong> after the dismissal\/ lay off takes effect. The deadline for serving such notice may be extended if approved by the Commissioner for Labour. You shall make the severance payment to the employee <strong>no later than 2 months<\/strong> after receiving such notice.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Offences_and_Penalties-2\"><\/span>Offences and Penalties<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you fail to pay severance payment your helper without reasonable excuse, you are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to <strong>a fine of $50,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"81\" data-end=\"103\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><\/span>Final Thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"105\" data-end=\"619\">Understanding long service payment and severance payment is essential for every Hong Kong employer to ensure fair, lawful, and responsible treatment of domestic helpers. By following the correct rules, paying on time, and respecting your helper\u2019s rights, you not only stay compliant with Hong Kong labour laws\u2014you also build a more ethical and trustworthy employment relationship. Whether you\u2019re ending a contract or preparing for renewal, clarity and fairness go a long way in supporting your helper\u2019s well-being.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"621\" data-end=\"868\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Need_A_New_Helper\"><\/span>Need A New Helper?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You may <a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/registration\/childcare\/employer\">create an account<\/a> for free on HelperChoice platform and browse more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/domestic-helpers\/hong-kong\">20,000 helper profiles<\/a> by their work experiences, nationality, age, language and cooking skill and so forth.<\/p>\n<p>If you become our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/info\/en\/hire-domestic-helper\">Premium member<\/a><\/strong>, you may also enjoy <strong>a 10% discount<\/strong> on <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/info\/en\/direct-hire-packages\">visa processing package<\/a><\/strong> for Filipino maids.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"You_might_also_be_interested_in\"><\/span><strong>You might also be interested in:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/domestic-helper\/employment-contract-regulations\">Domestic Helper Employment Contract Regulations<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/domestic-helper\/annual-leave-and-holidays\">Domestic Helper Annual Leave and Holidays<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/domestic-helper\/termination\">Domestic Helper Contract Termination<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/helperchoice-new-user-guide\">How To Hire A Helper Online?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6304 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Copy-of-Looking-for-a-domestic-helper_-blog-300x273.png\" alt=\"Hire A Domestic Worker In Hong Kong | HelperChoice | An Ethical And Fair Employment Agency\" width=\"300\" height=\"273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Copy-of-Looking-for-a-domestic-helper_-blog-300x273.png 300w, https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Copy-of-Looking-for-a-domestic-helper_-blog.png 660w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Hire A Domestic Worker In Hong Kong | HelperChoice | An Ethical And Fair Employment Agency<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/domestic-helpers\/hong-kong\">Find A Domestic Helper Now \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Updated on 20 November 2025 ) What is domestic helper long service payment? Long service payment is the amount you are legally bound to pay to your helper if he\/she has worked for you for a longer period of time. You should pay long service payment to the helper if he\/she has worked continuously for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":12141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"description":"A clear guide to long service vs. severance payments for domestic helpers in Hong Kong including eligibility, calculations, and employer duties. Know more here.","title":"Long Service Payment and Severance Payment for Domestic Helper - HelperChoice Blog"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[184,343],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rights-regulation","category-salary-finances"],"blocksy_meta":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/582f20bb573ad1f106cdce21070439c2f525e3eb-domestic-helper-placement-fee-agency-fee.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12139"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12139\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14269,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12139\/revisions\/14269"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}