Extension of maternity leave from 10 to 14 weeks will come into effect by 2021, Hong Kong labour and welfare minister says
- Once bill is passed, the government will bear the cost of the extra four weeks, capped at HK$36,822 per employee
- Employees who miscarry from 24 weeks after conception will be eligible for maternity leave, down from 28 weeks
Pregnant women in Hong Kong will get four more weeks of maternity leave by 2021, the city’s labour and welfare minister has said, giving a time frame for the previously announced extension.
Minister Law Chi-kwong also said on Sunday that women who miscarry any time from 24 weeks after conception would be eligible for maternity leave, down from 28 weeks.
“If the bill can be passed by mid-next year, our goal is to implement the measure by the end of 2021. However, this will depend on the Legislative Council,” Law wrote in a blog post.
“We hope the new year will bring a new and good start.”
The bureau will submit the maternity leave amendment bill – increasing the leave from 10 to 14 weeks – to the Legislative Council on January 8 next year with the hope that it will be passed before the body goes into recess in July.
