Yes, it is possible to hire students without paying them minimum wage. A student employee is exempt from the Minimum Wage Ordinance. To qualify as a student employee, the student must be a Hong Kong resident enrolled in full-time education. There are 2 types of student employees, including the work experience intern and the student … Read more
Varying an employment contract involves changing, removing or adding in terms and conditions of an employment contract after it had been signed. It is possible for you to vary an employment contract, but you must have your employee’s consent and have a valid reason for doing so. Formalities for variating a contract Under the Employment … Read more
Yes. Within 3 months of employing a person, you will need to fill in the IR56E form to inform the Inland Revenue Department, if you anticipate that the employee is likely to be chargeable to Salaries Tax. You should also submit the report remuneration paid to the employee by submitting either IR56B or IR56M. Hiring … Read more
Sickness or injury – No Employees may not be able to work due to sickness or injury. In this case, this will not break the continuity of continuous employment. However, if there is any absence of work for more than 48 hours then it should be supported by a medical certificate issued by a registered … Read more
Employees who are continuously employed are entitled to many additional benefits under the Employment Ordinance. Therefore, as an employer, it is important to understand if your employees are under a continuous contract or not. According to the Employment Ordinance, an employee who has been employed by the same employer for four weeks or more, with … Read more
As an employer, you must be aware whether your worker is an employee or an independent contractor, as it would greatly affect the rights and benefits you must provide for your worker. Difference between employee and independent contractor Different factors may be considered to distinguish between an employee and independent contractor, but these factors are … Read more
The Employment Ordinance does not differentiate between full-time and part-time employees. Part-time workers are entitled to the same protection and benefits as full-time workers. These include protection under the Minimum Wage Ordinance and Employment Ordinance, as well as MPF contributions. There is currently no legislation on maximum working hours or maximum overwork time. However, the … Read more
No, verbally agreed employment contracts are legally enforceable. But you are strongly advised to have a written employment contract. Benefits of written contracts There are multiple benefits of having a signed written employment contract, which includes: Specifying explicitly and serves as evidence of the employment terms and conditions; Reminding both employers and employees of their … Read more
Hiring employees is essential to a business, so as an employer, you must be aware of the requirements and process of hiring an employee. Who you can hire You should comply with the guidelines issued by the government to avoid discrimination in the workplace. Employers should hire people based on their abilities, aptitude and knowledge … Read more
Yes, you are obliged to purchase insurance for your employees to protect your company against any potential liability that may arise when there is an accident at work, as the insurance allows you to compensate your employee who suffers from a job injury or death. What does the insurance cover? Employees are covered by the … Read more