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Comprehensive vs basic domestic helper insurance in Hong Kong

Author

Kwiksure Team

Created On

2019-11-24

Edited On

2026-05-30

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Insurance

It is quite a common thing in Hong Kong to hire a full-time domestic helper, or maid, who helps with almost all everyday things around the house. Domestic helpers help with cleaning the house, cooking, laundry, but also with taking care of children, and the elderly members of the family. With so many Hongkongers working long hours, the help of the maid is a great relief to their everyday matters. However, besides reaping the benefits of affordable help, employers of domestic helpers have few other responsibilities, including buying insurance for their help.

In this article by Kwiksure, a leading insurance broker in Hong Kong, we will explain the differences between the basic domestic helper insurance requirement, also called Employee Compensation (EC) coverage and the benefits of securing a comprehensive plan for the maid you employ.

Table of contents

What is Employee Compensation insurance and what does it cover?
Comprehensive domestic helper insurance
Talk to Kwiksure about your insurance needs

What is Employee Compensation insurance and what does it cover?

Hong Kong's labor law requires all employers to purchase insurance to protect their employees against workplace injuries and accidents. This law also applies to all those who employ a domestic worker, making it compulsory to secure at least the minimum legal requirement for a maid via the Employee Compensation Insurance.

Employees Compensation (EC) Insurance is the most basic insurance, and it covers employees who suffer injury or develop an occupational disease during the course of their work. The maid insurance, or the most basic EC insurance policy, covers the employer’s liability for the domestic helper's injuries, including their medical bills, medication, sick pay, etc. If an employee makes a claim under the EC policy, the coverage will provide weekly payments to the said employee, which can be used to offset their loss of earnings, both present, and future, or pay for necessary medical expenses.

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Comprehensive domestic helper insurance

While the cheaper, basic domestic helper insurance only covers the bare minimum, there are some benefits to offering more comprehensive coverage to your domestic helper. Besides the EC insurance, all employers of domestic workers are also required to provide their helper with free medical care under the terms of a standard employment contract, which is extensively enforced in Hong Kong.

With that being said, extending the helper’s insurance coverage for at least health insurance is a wise step for employers to protect themselves, and the helper, against the costs of healthcare treatments.

What other benefits can employers offer to their helpers? Usual additions to the EC coverage include:

Health insurance
Personal accident insurance
Dental insurance
Repatriation expenses
Replacement expenses
Loss of services allowance
Fidelity insurance protection
Loan protection insurance

The comprehensive maid insurance can help offset many potential issues that might fall to the employer; be it bearing the costs of helper’s repatriation in case of her not being able to work anymore, but those benefits can also be a life-changer to the maid herself, as very often, her whole family is depending on her earnings here in Hong Kong. While many employers choose to fulfill only the statutory coverage requirements, it might pay off to extend your maid’s coverage a little further, if not only for your own financial protection but also for hers.

Talk to Kwiksure about your insurance needs

Whether you decide to obtain only the basic Employees Compensation insurance for your domestic helper, or are looking to find out more about the benefits of the comprehensive maid insurance, it's best to consult an insurance broker, such as Kwiksure, to get unbiased advice, plan comparisons and free quotes from multiple Hong Kong insurance partners.

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Contact Kwiksure to get domestic helper insurance quotes

Kwiksure has over 20 years of experience in the domestic helper insurance industry, comparing quotes from over 60 insurers in Hong Kong. Use our online quotation tool now to get a free domestic helper insurance quote!

The above information is for reference only. Kwiksure takes no responsibility for the accuracy and timeliness of the information. For the coverage, mode of compensation, benefit limit and premium levels of any specific insurance plan, please refer to the relevant policy terms.

Author

Kwiksure Team

Kwiksure is a licensed motor insurance brokerage company with over 20 years of experience in insurance. The company strives to simplify insurance and select the best insurance plans for customers that fit their budget and coverage needs.

Kwiksure provides a range of insurance products, including car insurance, motorcycle insurance, cross-border insurance between Hong Kong and Mainland China, home insurance, travel insurance, domestic helper insurance, and voluntary medical insurance. The team has been named "Best Car Insurance Broker" and "Outstanding Leadership Award" by various media outlets over the years.

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