What are the paid and unpaid leaves in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong's Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) provides various types of paid and unpaid leave to ensure employees’ personal, family, and health needs are met. Here’s a breakdown of the main leave types available:


Paid Leaves

Maternity Leave

  • Duration: Female employees are entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave, including 4 weeks before the expected date of delivery and the remainder after childbirth.

  • Eligibility: The employee must have been employed by the same employer for at least 40 weeks before taking the leave. A medical certificate confirming the pregnancy is required.

  • Compensation: Employees on maternity leave are entitled to receive 4/5 of their daily wage during the leave period.

Paternity Leave

  • Duration: Male employees (or the second parent) are entitled to 5 days of paternity leave following the birth of their child.

  • Eligibility: To qualify, the employee must have been employed for at least 40 weeks before taking the leave, with a medical certificate required.

  • Compensation: Employees on paternity leave are entitled to receive 4/5 of their daily wage.


Unpaid Leave

  • Duration: Employees may request unpaid leave for personal reasons. This type of leave requires approval from the employer.

  • Eligibility: No statutory requirements apply to unpaid leave, but it must be mutually agreed upon between the employer and the employee.

  • Compensation: No compensation is provided during the unpaid leave period.

These leave entitlements ensure employees can balance their work responsibilities with personal and family needs while receiving fair compensation where applicable.

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