Employers are resisting moves to impose mandatory paternity leave for staff, saying it would be a heavy blow at a time when the full impact of the year-old minimum wage is still kicking in and that cheap domestic staff and willing grandparents rendered it unnecessary.
They expressed their concerns at a meeting of the Labour Advisory Board at which employee representatives insisted they should have the same rights as civil servants.
A Civil Service Bureau consultation paper released in November recommended up to five days of paternity leave, while a government consultation is under way to consider making it a statutory requirement for all employers.
Yesterday marked the first time the board had discussed the issue. Employer representative Ho Sai-chu said the government should encourage companies to give paternity leave but leave the decision up to them.
'The minimum wage has only been implemented for a year. Now we're talking about a review, and also the legislation of standard working hours,' said Ho, of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.
'If we're going to make paternity leave statutory too, I am not sure whether companies and Hong Kong's economy can handle it.'
He added that Hong Kong was different from other places. 'It's easy and inexpensive to hire domestic workers and many grandparents are willing to help take care of the babies and the mothers. We should consider the culture of this city.'