28 December, 2012
Legal News & Analysis – Asia Pacific – Hong Kong – Labour & Employment
Since 1 April 2012, new fathers who are full time government employees who have more than 40 weeks continuous service are eligible to take 5 days’ paternity leave on full pay. Recently the Labour Advisory Board gave its endorsement for men in the private sector to be be paid for 3 days of paternity leave. Like mothers in Hong Kong who are on statutory maternity leave, fathers who will enjoy paternity leave will be paid at the same rate i.e. four fifths of their salary. It was also agreed that unmarried men may also enjoy the benefit as long as they can prove that they are the father of the child. Employers in Hong Kong have fought against plans to provide paternity leave to working fathers claiming that it will raise labour costs and will place them under an unnecessary burden. No timetable has yet been given as to when the draft bill will be introduced.
