An ageing local workforce makes cleaning one of the hardest sectors to staff. Cleaner is an ESLS common post with a comparatively simple application path.
Cleaner posts are Tier 1 (2:1 ratio, 4 weeks recruitment) and cover offices, schools, estates, malls, shops and restaurant cleaning. Outsourced cleaning contractors apply in their own name, with the ratio calculated on the company's total full-time local headcount, and may declare service locations across up to 5 districts.
| Post | Monthly median wage (HKD) | Entry requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaner / lavatory attendant | $11,620 | P6 · 1 yr experience · 8 hrs/day |
| Refuse collector | $11,620 | P6 · 1 yr experience |
Source: Labour Department, "ESLS List of Common Posts" (revised 22 June 2026), official PDF. Median wages are updated periodically; the figure at time of application prevails.
An ESLS application typically takes 4–6 months: submission (form ESLS-1A/1B) → local open recruitment → Labour Advisory Board assessment and approval-in-principle → candidate matching via licensed mainland labour agencies → Immigration Department visa → arrival and onboarding. We handle all documentation, recruitment advertising and follow-up at zero service fee to employers.
Free one-on-one assessment. Zero service fee for employers.