The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (MPF) is a statutory body established under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (MPFSO) residing in Hong Kong.
Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) System. Except for exempt persons, employees and self-employed persons aged 18 to 64 are required to join an MPF scheme under the MPFSO.
Employees
An employee is a person engaged by an employer under an employment contract (which can be made in writing or orally and includes express or implied terms).
Regular employees regular employees are employees aged 18 to 64 and have been employed in any industry for a continuous period of 60 days or more.
Casual employeesCasual employees are employees aged 18 to 64 and employed in the construction industry or the catering industry on a day-to-day basis or for a fixed period of less than 60 days.
Self-employed Persons
Under the MPF System, self-employed persons are those who earn income from the production of or trade of goods or services in a capacity other than that of an employee (i.e. those who work for themselves).
Sole proprietors and partners in a partnership are regarded as self-employed persons.
Exempt Persons
The following are exempt persons who are not required to join an MPF scheme:
- employees and self-employed persons who are under 18 or over 65 years of age
- domestic employees1
- self-employed hawkers
- people covered by statutory pension or provident fund schemes, such as civil servants and subsidized or grant school teachers
- members of occupational retirement schemes which have been granted MPF exemption certificates
- overseas persons who enter Hong Kong under section 11 of the Immigration Ordinance for the purpose of employment for not more than 13 months, or who are covered by overseas retirement schemes
- employees of the European Union Office of the European Commission in Hong Kong