Rest days All employees under a continuous contract are entitled to a rest day where they can abstain from working for a period of at least 24 hours in every period of seven days. This is in addition to statutory holidays. In the corporate setting, Saturdays and Sundays are often designated as the rest days
Employer’s Guide: Reimbursement of Maternity Leave Pay Scheme
The Employment Ordinance, Cap. 57 was amended with effect from 11 December 2020 to increase statutory maternity leave from 10 weeks to 14 weeks. Once the maternity leave pay (“MLP”) for the entire period is paid, employers are entitled to apply for reimbursement capped at HKD80,000 for the MLP corresponding to the 11th to 14th weeks under the Reimbursement of the Maternity Leave Pay Scheme (the “RMLP Scheme”). The RMLP Scheme announced by the Labour Department is now open for application.
Employment Spotlight: Increased Maternity and Paternity Leave are Now in Effect
The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 (the “Amendment”) has come into operation from today, 11 December 2020. Our previous update on its details can be viewed here.
Employment Spotlight: Statutory Hong Kong Maternity Leave Increases to 14 Weeks
The Hong Kong Government announced last week that The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 (“Ordinance”) - passed by the Legislative Council on 9 July 2020 - will come into operation on 11 December 2020.
Under the Ordinance, statutory maternity leave will be extended by 4 weeks, to a total of 14 weeks. The leave must be taken continuously.
Employment Spotlight: Enhanced statutory maternity leave protection as the Legco passes the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2019
The Employment (Amendment) Bill 2019 (“Bill”) was passed by the Legislative Council on 9 July 2020. The Bill seeks to amend the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) “to extend the statutory maternity leave by 4 weeks; to introduce a cap on the maternity leave pay in respect of the extension of maternity leave; to shorten the period of pregnancy mentioned in the definition of miscarriage; to allow a certificate of attendance to be accepted as proof in respect of entitlement to sickness allowance for a day on which a female employee attends a medical examination in relation to her pregnancy; and to provide for transitional and related matters.” The details of the amendments to the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) have been have been discussed in our previous article which can be accessed here.
Employment Spotlight: Unpaid Leave and Annual Leave during COVID-19
The COVID-19 situation has caused increasing financial and operational difficulties for businesses. Various employers have either asked employees to take unpaid leave and/or annual leave during this period. This practice note examines the legal requirements for asking employees to take unpaid leave and/or annual leave.
Employment Spotlight: Statutory Holidays Could Increase From 12 to 17 Days Per Year
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced last Tuesday, 14 January 2020 that the government intends to increase the number of Hong Kong statutory holidays from 12 to 17 days.
Employment Spotlight: Maternity Leave Update
The Labour and Welfare Bureau (the “Bureau”) has recently announced measures to extend the statutory maternity leave in Hong Kong from 10 weeks to 14 weeks.
Employment Spotlight Update: Statutory paternity leave to increase to five days starting from 18 January 2019
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare has recently announced that the Employment (Amendment) (No. 3) Ordinance 2018, which increases statutory paternity leave to five days, will come into operation on 18 January 2019.
Employment Update: Increase of Paternity Leave to Five Days in Hong Kong
The Employment (Amendment) (No. 3) Ordinance 2018 (“Amendment Ordinance”) was gazetted on 2 November 2018. Under the Amendment Ordinance, the statutory paternity leave under the Employment Ordinance Cap. 57 (“EO”) will increase from three days to five days.
