Hong Kong: Private employers face the introduction of statutory paternity leave for the first time

The law in Hong Kong has recently changed to allow male government employees under a continuous employment contract for at least 40 weeks to take paternity leave of 5 working days on full pay upon the birth of each child.  Now, these new statutory paternity provisions are likely to be extended to private employers. The Labour Advisory Board has recommended that private sector employees should be entitled to 3 days' paternity leave at the same level of allowance as maternity pay (80% of the daily average of the wages earned by the employee during the 12 months preceding the commencement of the paternity leave).  A bill to enact this provision is currently being drafted but it is not yet known when this will come into force.