Hong Kong labour chief wants maternity bill fast-tracked after months of political manoeuvring cause legislation backlog
- Labour minister Law Chi-kwong makes surprise proposal as means of bypassing House Committee which pan-democrats have brought to a standstill
In a rare move, Hong Kong’s labour minister has proposed that the legislature fast-track a bill that would extend the city’s statutory maternity leave by four weeks, avoiding a backlog caused by months of political manoeuvring.
But Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong’s proposal was not put to a vote on Thursday as a Legislative Council meeting was adjourned due to a lack of quorum.
The Employment (Amendment) Bill 2019, which was first floated in Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s policy address in 2018, would extend maternity leave from 10 to 14 weeks.
Law raised eyebrows on Thursday by launching a motion in Legco to have the bill passed on to the manpower panel, instead of the House Committee for its usual scrutiny after moving it for the first and second reading.
Pan-democrats have left the committee in deadlock after refusing to elect a chairman, stalling several pieces of legislation in the process.
“The government earnestly hopes that the amendment can be passed by the end of this legislative session,” Law said.