How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Imported Worker?
Application Guide · · 4 min · Tayee Editorial
Look up common posts and median wages by industry (Chinese)
An employer who hires one imported worker under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) has five main mandatory costs: a monthly wage not lower than the median monthly wage for the post; the Employees Retraining Levy of HK$400 for each month of the contract, paid in one lump sum, which comes to HK$9,600 for a 24-month contract; the visa or entry permit fee and the medical examination fee; passage to and from Hong Kong at the start and end of the contract; and free medical treatment during employment. Employment agency service fees are not among these mandatory costs. Tayee, a licensed employment agency (Licence No. 82242), explains the scope, fees and terms of its services in writing before service is provided.
In this article, 'imported workers' means workers that Hong Kong employers bring in under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme, not foreign domestic helpers.
What does the employer have to pay for?
| Item | Rule and source |
|---|---|
| Monthly wage | Not lower than the median monthly wage for the post. For common posts, the figure is in the Labour Department's List of Common Posts. Examples from the version revised on 22 June 2026: in catering, Waiter / Waitress HK$15,820, Junior Cook / No. 4 Cook HK$16,330 and Dish Washer HK$15,920; in the wholesale, retail and import/export trades, Salesperson HK$15,600; and Caretaker / Guard (Real Estate) HK$15,440. Source: Labour Department List of Common Posts. |
| Employees Retraining Levy | HK$400 multiplied by the number of months of the Standard Employment Contract, capped at 24 months, so HK$9,600 at most. It is paid in one lump sum after the Immigration Department approves the visa or entry permit and before the visa or entry permit is issued. A levy that has been paid is not refunded, and it may not be deducted from the imported worker's wages. Source: Immigration Department; Labour Department pamphlet. |
| Visa or entry permit fee, medical examination fee | Paid by the employer. The visa or entry permit fee follows the Immigration Department's fee table. Source: Labour Department pamphlet. |
| Passage | The employer pays the worker's passage between the place of origin and Hong Kong when the contract starts and when it is terminated or expires. Source: Labour Department pamphlet. |
| Medical treatment | If the worker falls ill or is injured during employment, whether or not because of work, the employer provides free medical treatment, including consultation, hospitalisation and emergency dental treatment. Source: Labour Department pamphlet. |
| Cap on accommodation deductions | First check which version of the Standard Employment Contract the approval-in-principle letter specifies. Under the green LD 294 (8/2026), the cap is the lowest of the actual accommodation cost, 20% of the fixed monthly wage and 20% of the amount actually payable to the worker for that wage period. Earlier versions follow their own contract clauses. Source: Labour Department pamphlet. |
| Meals | The scheme does not require employers to provide meals. If meals are provided, they must be free. Source: Labour Department pamphlet. |
| MPF | It depends on the worker's conditions of stay and whether the worker is an exempt person. People permitted to work in Hong Kong for not more than 13 months, or who are members of a retirement scheme of a place outside Hong Kong, are exempt. If the worker goes on working in Hong Kong for more than 13 months and no other exemption applies, the employer must enrol the worker in an MPF scheme as the MPF legislation requires. Source: MPFA. |
Each median wage is for the normal working hours per day shown in the List of Common Posts. The same post title can carry a different figure in another industry, so check the figure against the actual industry and duties.
When is the levy paid, and can it be refunded?
The employer pays it in one lump sum after the Immigration Department approves the visa or entry permit application and before the visa or entry permit is issued. A levy that has been paid is not refunded.
How much can be deducted for accommodation?
It depends on which version of the Standard Employment Contract the approval-in-principle letter tells the employer to use. For contracts on the green LD 294 (8/2026), the cap is the lowest of the actual accommodation cost, 20% of the fixed monthly wage and 20% of the amount actually payable to the worker for that wage period.
How are agency fees charged?
Employment agency service fees are not among the mandatory costs above. Tayee explains the scope, fees and terms of its services in writing before service is provided.
Last checked: 11 November 2026 | Sources: Labour Department pamphlet (revised 10/2026); List of Common Posts (revised 22 June 2026); Immigration Department ESLS page
Illustrative image; not a photo of any particular employer or application.
Hong Kong Labour Department and Immigration Department