On 18 November the Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD) delivered a dedicated seminar for more than 180 Indonesian foreign domestic helpers who had landed in the city over the past month. Hosted at the Indonesian Consulate General, the session forms part of an ImmD outreach programme aimed at preventing visa overstays, illegal employment and human-trafficking abuses.
Key messages: Enforcement officers walked participants through the terms of the Standard Employment Contract, emphasising that helpers may only perform domestic duties for the employer named on their work visa. Case studies highlighted the legal risks of taking up sideline jobs—such as part-time cleaning or baby-sitting—which can lead to immediate visa cancellation and up to two years’ imprisonment.
Why it matters: Hong Kong relies on some 340,000 foreign domestic helpers, 55 per cent of whom are Indonesian nationals. Breaches of stay conditions often spill over into wider compliance issues for expatriate families and senior executives who employ helpers as live-in carers. By clarifying rules early, the ImmD hopes to reduce the number of breach cases that require employer interviews, court appearances and, ultimately, disruption to household stability.
![Immigration Department briefings target newly arrived Indonesian domestic helpers]()
Practical takeaways for employers: • HR teams managing senior-level relocations should incorporate the ImmD’s multilingual leaflets into orientation packs. • Families should keep copies of helpers’ passports and Hong Kong ID cards on hand, as random spot checks by immigration or labour inspectors have increased around popular parks and community centres. • Agencies arranging helper placements must remind candidates to attend the optional follow-up clinic on trafficking-in-persons awareness, scheduled for 3 December.
Bigger picture: The seminar reflects a broader government pivot toward education rather than solely punitive action. Similar sessions for Filipino, Thai and Sri Lankan helpers are planned through Q1 2026, coinciding with a new e-appointment system for visa renewals.
Key messages: Enforcement officers walked participants through the terms of the Standard Employment Contract, emphasising that helpers may only perform domestic duties for the employer named on their work visa. Case studies highlighted the legal risks of taking up sideline jobs—such as part-time cleaning or baby-sitting—which can lead to immediate visa cancellation and up to two years’ imprisonment.
Why it matters: Hong Kong relies on some 340,000 foreign domestic helpers, 55 per cent of whom are Indonesian nationals. Breaches of stay conditions often spill over into wider compliance issues for expatriate families and senior executives who employ helpers as live-in carers. By clarifying rules early, the ImmD hopes to reduce the number of breach cases that require employer interviews, court appearances and, ultimately, disruption to household stability.
Practical takeaways for employers: • HR teams managing senior-level relocations should incorporate the ImmD’s multilingual leaflets into orientation packs. • Families should keep copies of helpers’ passports and Hong Kong ID cards on hand, as random spot checks by immigration or labour inspectors have increased around popular parks and community centres. • Agencies arranging helper placements must remind candidates to attend the optional follow-up clinic on trafficking-in-persons awareness, scheduled for 3 December.
Bigger picture: The seminar reflects a broader government pivot toward education rather than solely punitive action. Similar sessions for Filipino, Thai and Sri Lankan helpers are planned through Q1 2026, coinciding with a new e-appointment system for visa renewals.
