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Ahead of Father’s Day, Hong Kong government proposes to increase paternity leave from three days to five

Legislators on manpower panel describe amendment as ‘conservative’ and ‘lagging behind international standards’

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Employers in Hong Kong will have to pay HK$84 million more a year if paternity leave is increased to five days. Photo: Alamy

A proposal to extend statutory paternity leave in Hong Kong from three days to five was formally put forward by the government on Friday, two days ahead of Father’s Day.

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The increment, which was proposed by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor in her maiden policy address last October, will come into effect after lawmakers pass the relevant amendment bill.

The bill was gazetted on Friday and will be introduced into the Legislative Council on June 20.

The amendment will be the first major change since paternity leave was introduced to the Employment Ordinance and came into effect on February 25, 2015.

Under the current rules, an eligible male employee is entitled to no more than three days of paternity leave for each confinement of his spouse or partner. While on leave, he will be paid 20 per cent less than for normal working days.

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