Statutory maternity leave period extended to 14 weeks beginning 11 December 2020

We previously wrote in July on the Legislative Council’s passing of the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2019, which introduced amendments to the Employment Ordinance to extend the statutory maternity leave period from 10 weeks to 14 weeks, and technical amendments to rationalise the current statutory maternity leave regime.

On 9 October 2020, the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 (Commencement) Notice was gazetted and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare appointed 11 December 2020 as the day when the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 comes into operation, meaning that the statutory maternity leave period will be extended to 14 weeks commencing 11 December 2020.