The government has pledged to examine the feasibility of allowing paternity leave for Hong Kong's male employees.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung was quoted as saying on Wednesday that his bureau is pushing a study of the proposed benefit, and will consult with the Department of Justice later.

A report is expected in early 2012. It will be handed to the Legislative Council and the Labour Advisory Board for evaluation.

Cheung made his remarks to Wong Kwok-hing and Pan Peu-chyou, legislators and members of The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (HKFTU), as well as members from the Hong Kong Men's Association, which had pressed for the legislation.

The report may broach technical problems as to whether the leave should be paid or not.

It will evaluate potential difficulties created by applications by unmarried fathers who file for paternity leave, or whose wives are not permanent Hong Kong residents.

Wong welcomed the announcement, saying exact timetable and the evident deliberation on issues shows the government's seriousness on the matter.

Pan dismissed concerns about possible difficulties, saying such problems may arise in a minute portion of general households in the city, and that the majority of the families will prefer that the father physically attend to provide comfort and care for family members.

In June, the Hong Kong Men's Association announced that 98 percent of the 250 people surveyed favored paternity leave for male employees.

The HKFTU, which vigorously promoted the idea, contended that paternity leaves will also help to stimulate the city's low and diminishing fertility rate.

In 2009, a study done by the Department of Social Work of the Chinese University of Hong Kong showed that one third of young women surveyed attached importance to whether their spouse may accompany them at important stages related to bearing children.

"It is not enough to just 'call on' employers to offer paternity leaves for the employees if the government calls for each family to give birth to three children," Wong said, referring to the family-friendly employment practices proposed by the bureau in 2007.

Cheung expressed concern, however, that employers may be averse to any plan that may result in increased costs.

According to the government, 21 percent of companies in the city had offered paternity leaves for employees in 2008. Updated figures are not available, but the percentage is believed to have increased.

andrea@chinadailyhk.com

China Daily

(HK Edition 09/22/2011 page1)