Do domestic helpers need MPF? It depends who employs them

Q: My mother was recently hired by a home-cleaning company as a domestic helper, visiting different clients’ homes daily. Domestic employees are exempt from MPF — so does she need to contribute?

A: Yes. Because she is employed by the cleaning company, she is not an exempt domestic employee. Under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance, domestic employees — those mainly providing domestic services to their employer — are exempt. But your mother is employed by the company, which assigns her to different homes; the company as her employer must enrol her in an MPF scheme.

Who else is exempt from MPF?

Besides domestic employees, several categories are exempt:

Why isn’t a company-hired helper exempt?

Because exemption turns on the employment relationship, not the nature of the work. Her employer is the cleaning company, not each household — so like any ordinary employee, she must be enrolled.

To learn more about contribution rules and exemptions, visit the MPF education centre.