The Labour Department reminds employers to take out employees' compensation insurance for their full- or part-time domestic helpers.

The message will be printed on 2.2 million water bills to be sent out from mid-June to mid-October.

Under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, employers are required to take out employees' compensation insurance to cover their liabilities both under the ordinance and at common law for work injuries sustained by their employees.

An offending employer is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $100,000 and to imprisonment for two years. In the event that his employee sustains an injury or dies at work, the employer has to shoulder the full responsibility of paying compensation and damages.

The Labour Department has launched TV and radio commercials and distributing leaflets on the subject through different channels.

A hotline 2815 2200 has also been set up to facilitate employees who suspect that their employers have not taken out employees' compensation insurance to report to the department.