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Hong Kong Employer of Record (EOR)

VERDICT: The best Hong Kong EOR in 2023 is Horizons. Horizons leads the pack its regional expertise, and specialization in EOR services in both Hong Kong and mainland China.

Hong Kong, a thriving global business hub, offers an ideal environment for companies looking to expand their horizons. One of the challenges faced by businesses entering the Hong Kong market is navigating the complex employment landscape. This comprehensive guide offers insights into Hong Kong Employer of Record (EOR) services, a solution designed to simplify the process of hiring and managing employees in the region.

Key Takeaways

  • Understanding Hong Kong Employer of Record (EOR) services and their role in providing comprehensive solutions to labor laws, payroll systems, and employee benefits.
  • Advantages offered by EORs including reduced risk, accelerated market entry, cost savings & streamlined HR processes.
  • Evaluating the right EOR partner for compliance with local labor laws & regulations while customizing services to business needs.

Understanding Hong Kong Employer of Record (EOR)

Enterprises venturing into the Hong Kong market often face the daunting task of understanding the local labor laws, payroll systems, and employee benefits. Hong Kong Employer of Record (EOR) services provide a seamless solution to these challenges, ensuring legal compliance while allowing businesses to focus on growth and success in establishing a record in Hong Kong.

A partnership with an EOR allows companies to rapidly grow their presence in Hong Kong, forgoing the need to form a local entity or grapple with intricate local labor laws.

The Role of an EOR in Hong Kong

An EOR serves as the legal employer, managing:

  • Employment contracts
  • Payroll
  • Taxes
  • Benefits
  • Severance pay

While the client company maintains oversight of daily operations. This includes adhering to Hong Kong’s Employment Ordinance, which governs aspects such as termination notice periods and severance payments. Engaging an EOR minimizes the risk of non-compliance, enabling businesses to focus on their core objectives.

EORs can also provide support with bonus arrangements, probationary periods, and other employment-related matters. EORs simplify these complexities, allowing businesses to concentrate on their growth and success in the Hong Kong market.

Advantages of Using an EOR

Utilizing a Hong Kong EOR provides numerous benefits, such as:

  • Reduced risk
  • Accelerated market entry
  • Cost savings
  • Streamlined HR processes

Partnering with an EOR eliminates the need for setting up a local entity, saving time and resources while ensuring legal compliance. Moreover, EOR services are often more cost-effective than establishing and maintaining a local entity.

Key Employment Regulations in Hong Kong

Navigating the employment regulations in Hong Kong can be challenging for businesses unfamiliar with the local landscape. The primary regulations governing employment in the region are the Employment Ordinance, the taxation system, and the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF), which are part of the Hong Kong labor laws. As the Hong Kong government requires, businesses looking to hire in Hong Kong must comply with these regulations.

Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Contributions

The Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) is a compulsory pension scheme in Hong Kong, designed to provide a financial safety net for employees upon retirement. Both employers and employees are required to contribute to the MPF, with a minimum contribution rate of 5%. Companies employing staff in Hong Kong must strictly adhere to this requirement.

Mandatory Provident Fund

Taxation System in Hong Kong

Hong Kong boasts a simple and efficient taxation system, featuring progressive tax rates and various deductions and allowances. With income earned only in the territory subject to tax, Hong Kong presents an attractive environment for businesses looking to expand their operations and manage their Hong Kong dollars efficiently, contributing to a robust Hong Kong economy.

Employee Benefits and Leave Policies in Hong Kong

Businesses entering the market must understand Hong Kong’s employee benefits and leave policies. In addition to complying with local labor laws, offering attractive benefits packages can help companies attract and retain top talent.

Health Insurance Options

Hong Kong offers both public and private healthcare systems, ensuring access to high-quality medical care for all Hong Kong EOR, with the support of the Hong Kong government.

While health insurance is not a mandatory requirement for employees in Hong Kong, many employers choose to provide additional health insurance benefits to attract and retain top talent.

Vacation and Sick Leave Entitlements

Employees in Hong Kong are entitled to 7-14 days of paid annual leave in Hong Kong, depending on their years of service, and can accumulate 2-4 days of paid sick leave per month. Companies employing staff in Hong Kong must ensure compliance with these leave entitlements.

Hong Kong vacation leave

Top 5 Hong Kong EOR Companies

  1. Horizons: Horizons offers a broad range of HR services in Hong Kong, including Employer of Record, visa and immigration support. With a strong regional presence, and in-depth knowledge of Hong Kong recruitment markets and compliance, Horizons is our pick for the best Hong Kong EOR. Read more in our 2023 Horizons EOR review. 
  2. INS Global: With its extensive experience in the Asia-Pacific region, INS Global provides comprehensive HR and EOR services in Hong Kong, assisting clients with employee onboarding, payroll management, tax compliance, and legal support.
  3. Acclime: Acclime provides tailored EOR solutions to support businesses in their expansion efforts, offering HR administration, payroll, visa and immigration, and other related services.
  4. Globalization Partners: With its global reach, Globalization Partners helps companies expand into Hong Kong and manage their HR operations seamlessly, providing EOR services, recruitment support, and compliance guidance. Read more in our 2023 analysis of Globalization Partners’ (G-P’s) EOR solutions. 
  5. HROne: HROne specializes in HR outsourcing and EOR services, including payroll administration, employee benefits management, and compliance solutions, tailored to the specific needs of each client.

Hiring and Onboarding Process with a Hong Kong EOR

Any business expansion relies heavily on successful hiring and onboarding. A Hong Kong EOR can streamline these processes, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience for both the employer and the new employee.

Recruitment and Candidate Selection

EORs can assist with the recruitment and candidate selection process, ensuring compliance with local labor laws and reducing the risk of penalties for non-compliance. A partnership with an experienced EOR allows businesses to concentrate on finding the best talent to drive their success in the Hong Kong market.

Fast and Compliant Onboarding

A Hong Kong EOR streamlines and optimizes the onboarding process, handling employment contracts and ensuring compliance with local regulations. This allows businesses to quickly onboard new employees and focus on their core operations, while the EOR takes care of the administrative and legal requirements.

Navigating Work Visas and Foreign Hires with a Hong Kong EOR

Hiring foreign workers can be a complex process, particularly when navigating the intricacies of work visas, immigration laws, and obtaining a medical certificate to hire employees.

A Hong Kong EOR can provide invaluable support in this area, simplifying the process and ensuring compliance.

Visa Application Process

An EOR can assist with the visa application process for foreign hires, helping to secure the necessary visas and work permits in a timely manner. This ensures a smooth transition for new employees and minimizes the risk of delays or complications.

Compliance with Immigration Laws

EORs ensure compliance with immigration laws during the probation period, reducing the risk of penalties and fines for non-compliance.

A partnership with a reputable EOR allows businesses to focus on expanding their operations in Hong Kong, with the assurance that their foreign hires are legally and compliantly employed.

Choosing the Right Hong Kong EOR Partner

A successful expansion into the Hong Kong market hinges on selecting the right Hong Kong EOR partner. Factors to consider include the provider’s experience, reputation, and range of services offered.

Evaluating EOR Providers

In evaluating EOR providers in Hong Kong, their experience, reputation, and range of services offered should be taken into account. This ensures that your chosen EOR partner can effectively manage your employment needs while ensuring compliance with local labor laws and regulations.

Customizing EOR Services to Your Needs

A seamless expansion into the Hong Kong market is guaranteed by customizing EOR services to align with your business goals. By tailoring services to meet your specific needs, your EOR partner can help you navigate the complexities of hiring in Hong Kong and managing employees in Hong Kong, allowing you to focus on growing your business in Hong Kong.

Summary

Expanding into the Hong Kong market can be a complex and challenging process, but partnering with a reputable Employer of Record can significantly simplify the journey. By leveraging the expertise of a Hong Kong EOR, businesses can navigate the complexities of local labor laws, secure work visas for foreign hires, and ensure compliance with all relevant regulations. Customizing EOR services to align with your business goals ensures a seamless expansion into the Hong Kong market, allowing you to focus on growth and success.

FAQ

An employer of record (EOR) is an entity that legally employs workers on behalf of another business, taking full responsibility for compliance, payroll, taxes, and benefits.

An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party entity that takes over your legal, payroll and HR responsibilities as an employer in various geographies. For example, an EOR based in Spain can hire employees locally on behalf of a company based in the United States, with the legal responsibilities of employment lying with the EOR in Spain.

An employer of record for foreign employees is a legal entity that allows companies to hire workers across international borders without the need to set up a local business or worry about breaching local labor laws.

NNRoad is the Employer of Record (EOR) for companies who do not have a legal entity in Hong Kong but want to hire locally, managing hiring, ensuring full compliance with labor laws and simplifying the visa/work permit process.

Hong Kong EORs provide employment contracts management, payroll processing, taxation, and benefits administration services, helping businesses comply with local labor laws. This allows businesses to focus on growth and success in the Hong Kong market.

Milly is an international lawyer and tech entrepreneur who has advised companies on expanding globally for over 5 years. She is an advocate of remote hiring and regularly consults on future of work matters. Milly founded RemotePad to help employers learn more about building and growing international teams.

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