HR and Payroll Outsourcing Service

The first platform I wanted to talk about is Indeed. Indeed is a hiring platform which works like a search engine. You can post an advertisement free of charge while you can also choose to sponsor your post to boost its exposure. From our observation, Indeed might not be the most popular hiring platforms for employers. However, we often found that candidates from Indeed have better English communication skills.

The second platform we want to mention is Jobsdb. Jobsdb is probably the most popular hiring platform in Hong Kong. From our experience, each advertisement can attract at least 100 resumes. However, this platform is quite expensive. They often made you to purchase a package with three to five positions while the package has a relatively short validity period.

The third platform is Classified post. If you are looking for professional candidates with solid working experience, you can often put your advertisements on the Classified post of the South China Morning Post. Get Started HK hired a few practising Accountants and Chartered secretaries through this channel in the past. However, entrepreneurs shall understand that this group of professional candidates usually ask for higher salary.

As a reminder, an employer should seek only those personal data that are necessary to enable a hiring decision to be made.  During the job interview, employer should not request for a copy of applicant’s identity card, detailed personal information, unless it is relevant to the selection process.

From our experience, entrepreneurs may want to avoid asking for information related to

• Nationality
• Marital status
• Disability
• Religion
• Sexual orientation

If the above is necessary, it would be the best to state the reason on the application form to avoid dispute. For details, please click here to check out information from the Equal Opportunity Committee.

Click here for details of the Employment Ordinance in Hong Kong.

Personal data means any data:-

• relating directly or indirectly to a living individual;
• from which it is practicable for the identity of the individual to be directly or indirectly ascertained; and

As per Case law Chow Kei Leung and The Privacy Commissioner of Personal Data in 2010, personal data includes, but not limited to, name, age, identity number, address, occupation, and nationality.

Disclaimer: The above is not a legal advice. If you have any questions, we are happy to share our business experience. You are recommended to seek legal advice as appropriate.

Under section 44 of the Employment Ordinance, employer must inform employee of the conditions of employment, including but not limited to wages, i.e. wage rate, overtime rate and any allowances, wage period, length of notice required to terminate the contract, and end of year payment and the payment period (if any).

Under section 70 of the Employment Ordinance, any term of an employment contract, which purports to extinguish or reduce any right or protection conferred to an employee by the Ordinance, shall have no legal effect. In other words, even if an employee signs and agrees with the terms, the terms will be considered invalid.

Change of terms and conditions during employment

If you have to make any change to the conditions of employment, clients are reminded to explain the proposed change to their employees. We recommend you to conduct a consultation with employees if you have to change material terms of the contract. If both parties agree to the change, the employer must give a copy of the written amendment to the employee upon receipt of written request. For details, please see section 45 of the Employment Ordinance.

While GSHK does not provide legal advice, our staff will be happy to share our business experience. Alternatively, you can contact practicing solicitors for independent legal advice.

*Note: GSHK is not an employment agency. We specialize in Hong Kong Company Formation and accounting service. However, we understand non-local customers may require comprehensive guidance and support. Hence, we’d be happy to answer any of your questions so you can focus to develop your business.

Due to the low birth rates in Hong Kong, the Government has introduced the Mandatory Provident Fund in Hong Kong. Employers and employees are each required to make regular mandatory contributions of 5% of the employee’s relevant income to an MPF scheme for every contribution period. The current minimum and maximum relevant income level are $7,100 and $30,000 per month respectively.

Find out whether you should participate in the MPF System

In general, for employees who has an employment visa which does not exceed 12 months or the person is a member of a provident or retirement fund overseas, he or she is exempt from enrolling into the scheme. Contact us today for details.