What is the workflow of a monthly companion? What is the price/fee of a monthly escort in Hong Kong?

Moon carers have long been an important supportive role for many mothers in Hong Kong. They are professional and caring, helping mothers to recover and take care of their newborn babies when they need it most, what are the duties of a moonlighting companion? What is the job description of a monthly companion and how to calculate the price? In this article, we have compiled the most complete Lazy Person's Guide to help mothers make the most comfortable choice by breaking down the job content, qualification level, working hours and fees of a monthly companion.

What is the job of a Moonwalker?

The core of a monthly companion's job revolves around the daily life of a postpartum mom and her newborn baby, for example:

Postnatal care for mom

• Designing and cooking monthly meals, nourishing soups and fried rice teas for mothers to help their bodies recover.
• Instructing or assisting in breastfeeding and managing post-partum discomforts
• Extra value-added services: e.g. ginger and vinegar boiler, belly-tie, emotional support (to be negotiated with the agent or monthly companion)

Newborn Care

• Feeding, sweeping, changing tablets, showering, umbilical cord cleaning
• Purchase and cleaning of baby products, sterilizing milk bottles
• Accompanying the mother to take the baby to the health center or hospital for follow-up consultation.

They will also pay attention to jaundice, skin condition and bowel movement patterns to help parents build up sensitivity and confidence in their baby's condition. Please note that the monthly companion mainly takes care of the mother and baby, but is not a full-time domestic helper. For example, cooking for the whole family and cleaning the whole house are not included in the standard service, so you need to negotiate with the agent or the monthly companion separately.

Classification of the qualification level of a monthly companion: novice vs standard vs senior

There are three levels of escorts in the market:

• Novice:0-10 monthly escorts, basic skills-based, suitable for families with limited budgets
• Standard:11-20 times of experience in escorting, skillful and able to handle common situations.
• Senior:More than 21 times, even up to 100 times of experience, strong breastfeeding guidance, good emotional support, good at dealing with unexpected situations

The definitions of standard and seniority vary slightly from company to company. Some of them depend on the actual number of times the escort has been with the company, while others refer to the certificates or professional accreditations. Therefore, when comparing, mothers should not only look at the grade label, but also carefully check the actual number of experience of the escort, the evaluation of previous employers and the certificates held by the escort.

Reference of monthly fee for escort service

When it comes to the most concerned issue, the price of a monthly escort, it is indeed very fluctuating. The labor cost of escort is mainly affected by experience, working hours (8 hours, 10 hours or 24 hours), number of days of service (5 days or 6 days of work) and additional skills. Below is a summary of the reference prices of Hong Kong escorts in the market to give you a basic idea:

Service Hours	Experience	Reference salary 26 days per month (6 days per week)
8-hour service	Novice (0-10 experiences)	$17,000 - $20,000
	Standard (11-20 experiences)	$19,900 - $21,300
	Senior (21+ experiences)	From $21,700 - $24,300
24 hours service	Novice (0-10 experiences)	$30,400 - $31,700
	Standard (11-20 experiences)	$33,600 - $40,100
	Senior (21+ experiences)	From $41,000 - $45,200

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What is a monthly fee? Must Know Extra Charges

Apart from the basic monthly labor, there are some extra charges that you need to set aside for your budget:

• Accompany the monthly profit (start/finish work): This is a traditional custom in Hong Kong for good luck. There is no hard and fast rule on the amount of money to be paid, and it will be affected by factors such as the experience of the companion, and the proximity of the area where the mother lives. In order to avoid embarrassment or disputes, mothers are advised to discuss the amount of money with the escort or agent, or even specify it in the contract.
• Meals and supplies expenses:All the food and daily necessities for mom and baby are accountable, so remember to list them in the contract.
• Transportation costs and time for grocery shopping:Generally, it is counted as hours worked and labor in the accompanying month, and the related expenses are reported by the employer.

4 Practical Tips for Employing a Moonlight Attendant

1、Hire in advance

Hong Kong's highly acclaimed escorts are always in a tight schedule, so it is recommended to start booking as soon as you are 12 weeks pregnant, so that you can get your favorite escort as early as possible.

2、Reputation and qualification check

Refer to real users' word of mouth, testimonials and past service reviews, mom's groups, testimonials, certificates, training background.

3、Arrangement of interview and trial work

When interviewing a companion, it is important to observe her manners and parenting knowledge, so that you can see if she is suitable for the job in person.

4. Preparation of Contractual Protection

When signing a contract with a paternity worker, the employer must specify the details of the work, expected date of delivery, working hours, salary, benefits, arrangement for inclement weather and notice period for termination, etc. In case of an employment relationship, the employer must take out workers' compensation insurance for the paternity worker to ensure the rights of both parties. In case of employment relationship, according to the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, employers are required to take out workers' compensation insurance for their paternity workers to ensure the rights and interests of both parties.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to determine the monthly escort fee? Does a higher fee mean better service?

The labor cost of a monthly escort is determined by qualifications, certificates, region, service content and skills. Higher charges may not necessarily mean the best service, so it is recommended to consider the reputation, certification and service content.

Is it mandatory to give profits for the commencement and completion of work?

Starting bonus is a traditional custom for goodwill and is not required by law. Completion gifts, on the other hand, depend on the performance of the escort as a token of appreciation and are not mandatory.

Does the 8-hour companion month include transportation and grocery shopping time?

Yes. Generally speaking, an eight-hour escort's work schedule includes time for grocery shopping. The monthly companion will go grocery shopping first and then go to the employer's home to start working. The employer usually reimburses them for the cost of the food and the expenses incurred. Transportation time to and from work is usually not counted as part of the workday.

Can I ask for a work trial? What should I do if I don't find the job suitable?

Trial work is possible, but it should be clearly agreed with the monthly worker or agent and written in the contract, including the length of the trial work period, the calculation of fees and the terms of advance notice. If the trial period is not suitable, both parties can terminate the contract to avoid disputes.

Does the monthly companion include night care for the baby?

Regular 8-hour or 10-hour monthly companion services are mostly provided during the daytime. If the mother wants to have support during the night (e.g. night feeding, changing tablets), she needs to hire a 24-hour or night shift companion service.

Can the monthly companion provide professional postnatal dietary advice?

Experienced doulas will arrange suitable dietary supplements, such as tonic soups, ginger rice and ginger vinegar, etc., according to the mother's physical condition and recovery progress. They can provide basic dietary and breastfeeding advice. However, if there is a complex body condition to be determined, it is advisable to consult a registered medical practitioner or dietitian for professional advice.

If I want to add extra hours temporarily, will the escort charge me an extra fee?

If an employer requires a monthly companion to work overtime, work on a holiday, or work extended hours, additional overtime is generally required.