The implementation of the proposal to suspend the Employees Retraining Levy collection for two years will be advanced from September 1 to August 1, subject to Executive Council approval, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung says.

Speaking after a meeting with the Immigration Department, Mr Cheung said the advancement will benefit more than 16,000 employers of foreign domestic helpers as August is the peak period for new application and contract renewal.

The suspension will apply to all cases where the visa for the helpers is granted by the department between August 1, 2008, and July 31, 2010, including renewal of existing contracts and signing of new contracts, instead of the date the visa application is submitted.

Mr Cheung called on employers who cannot benefit immediately from the measure not to terminate the contracts of their helpers prematurely as they will still be able to enjoy levy suspension for a period of two years when they are granted the visa for the renewal of the contracts or hiring of a new one during the suspension period.

Amendment to a schedule to the Employees Retraining Ordinance is required to implement the suspension of the levy collection. Implementation details will be announced as soon as possible.