Revised Code of Practice seeks to combat ‘job-hopping’ amongst FDHs

The revisions required agencies to tell that changing employers will not be approved.

The Labour Department has launched a public consultation to review the proposed revisions for the Code of Practice (CoP) for Employment Agencies that aims to prevent “job-hopping” of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs).

Under the revised CoP, employment agencies need to explain to their FDH job seekers that changing employers within their two-year contract period in Hong Kong will not be approved unless for exceptional circumstances.

The revised CoP also prohibits agencies from providing financial incentives to FDHs to terminate their contracts prematurely.

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It also requires agencies to provide information if they have associations with any financial institutions whilst submitting applications for licenses to prevent them from colluding with each other for arranging loans to FDHs.

To enhance transparency and protect consumers, agencies would set out the fees charged for each category of services in an agreement. They would also provide basic information on boarding facilities for their FDH job seekers.