********************************************************
The opening hours of the Foreign Domestic Helpers Section (FDHS) of the Immigration Department at Immigration Tower, Wan Chai, will be back to normal from tomorrow (August 5). People wanting to attend the FDHS won't need to queue up at the Immigration Department too early in the morning.
"The FDHS will open at 8.45am on weekdays and 9am on Saturdays from tomorrow," an Immigration Department spokesman said today (August 4).
"To ensure the smooth and orderly processing of applications relating to employment of foreign domestic helpers, the quota system recently introduced to the FDHS will remain unchanged. During weekdays, there will still be 1,800 quotas (1,200 for collection of visa labels and 600 for other applications including contract renewal, change of employer and extension of stay). On Saturdays, 180 quotas will be allotted for other applications but there will be no service for collection of visa labels," the spokesman said. "The quota will be given on a first come first served basis. For collection of visa labels, each employer or representing agent will be given a maximum of 10 quotas at one time. This arrangement will remain unchanged until further notice."
"Between August 1, 2008, and July 31, 2010, employers and the foreign domestic helpers are allowed to terminate the existing contracts and enter into new contracts between the same contractual parties under mutual agreement regardless of whether the existing contracts have run their two-year full course", the spokesman said.
Under this arrangement, foreign domestic helpers can apply for advanced contract renewal. They are not required to leave Hong Kong after termination of the existing contracts and before new contracts begin. The application for advanced contract renewal is similar to that of normal contract renewal but employers are not required to produce financial proof. In addition to the application forms (ID 988A & ID 988B), the helpers' travel document and copy of their Hong Kong identity card, the following documents should be submitted upon application:
1. An original copy of the current and new employment contracts (ID407). The new contract has to be notarised if so required by the relevant consulate;
2. Proof of the employer's residential address (original and copy); and
3. A written statement in the form of an undertaking by the foreign domestic helper's employer confirming the effective date of termination of the existing contract and the intention to enter or the entering into a new contract with the helper after such termination on the basis that the helper will be taken as continuing in the employment by the employer at all times (SF/IM/1607).
Further documents in support of the applications may be required in individual cases. The Director of Immigration reserves the rights to refuse visas for cases involving blatant manipulation, including cases where the employer and/or foreign domestic helper decline to sign the undertaking regarding the termination of the existing contract and the employment continuity.
A Labour Department spokesman said that for advanced renewal of contract, employers must fulfil the contractual and statutory obligations to their foreign domestic helpers and should never diminish the helpers' rights.
Applications may be submitted within four weeks before or within 14 days after termination of the existing contracts. Helpers may submit their applications in person or through authorised representatives to the FDHS or the Immigration Branch Offices of the Immigration Department (except the Hong Kong Island Travel Documents Issuing Office).
The application forms and the written statement (SF/IM/1607) are downloadable from the Immigration Department homepage at www.immd.gov.hk. For enquiries on levy suspension, please contact the Immigration Enquiry Hotline at (852) 2824 6111 or (852) 2877 7711 (fax). More information on employment of foreign domestic helpers and imported workers is available at Immigration Department's homepage at www.immd.gov.hk and Labour Department's homepage at www.labour.gov.hk.
Ends/Monday, August 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 20:39
NNNN