Paid vacation for new dads cheered, looks forward to go through LegCo

The Labour Advisory Board on Monday recommended legislation providing three days of statutory paternity leave for Hong Kong fathers at 80 percent of the normal salary.

Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, secretary for labour and welfare, welcomed the Labour Advisory Board's endorsement of the paid holiday for the city's new dads.

Cheung said, "The three-day paternity leave is a good start. It can take into account the capacity and competitiveness of small and medium enterprise (SME) and also consider the family-friendly employment practices".

Cheung went on that he will approach the Legislative Council's (LegCo) manpower panel shortly to hear their views. Subject to the views and advices, he will then start drafting the legislation and introduce the bill in the legislature as soon as possible.

The pay for paternity leave will equal that for maternity leave - four-fifths of a person's normal salary.

He added the legislation will continue to promote the family-friendly employment practices, which helps employees balance their work and family responsibilities, besides encouraging employers to care more for employees and increase productivity.

Both children born out of wedlock and those born overseas would also be covered after initial discussion, but the details must be worked out in preparing the legislation. The report also suggested a review after one year, said the Labour Advisory Board.

Lau Chin-ho, a member of the board and also the representative of the employers, said the paternity leave should be decided by individual enterprises, depending on their circumstances. He will inform the member of the commerce society and then learn about what step they would take.

Other representatives from business said they can accept three days of paternity leave at the most, saying that more days would affect individual companies.

The labor representatives, however, had pressed for a five-day paternity leave, the same as what civil servants are now entitled. They said three-day is a good start, but they will continue to strive for five days.

Kam Shu-yung, chairman of the Hong Kong SME Development Association, said it is most ideal that employees enjoy five days' paternity leave. He added the leave could help relieve the burden of the family, giving the father more time to look after other children or the aged.

The suggested three-day paternity leave is also no problem and would have little impact on the operation of companies, Kan said. Companies should care for their employees, Kam added.

Eligible government employees enjoy five working days of paternity leave on full pay on each occasion of childbirth, beginning April 1, 2012.

All full-time government employees, who have no less than 40 weeks' continuous service immediately before the expected or actual date of childbirth, will be eligible for paternity leave. At present, over 1,000 civil servants have already enjoyed the vacation.

However, the civil servants' paternity leave is also shorter than in other countries or regions. The UK has 14 days, Sweden 10 days, Philippines seven days, Taiwan three days, Macao two days.

fanfeifei@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 11/27/2012 page1)