Hong Kong Maternity Leave Update: 14 Weeks' Statutory Maternity Leave to come into effect on 11 December 2020

The Amendment provides for:

• extension of maternity leave from 10 weeks to 14 weeks for female employees who have been under a continuous contract;
  
  
• employers to be able to claim a reimbursement from the Government for any maternity leave pay that is payable for the additional 4 weeks' maternity leave. The reimbursement amount is capped at HK$80,000;
  
  
• a female employee to be entitled to the 14 weeks' maternity leave if they suffer a "miscarriage" at 24 weeks pregnancy or beyond (as opposed to the original 28 weeks of pregnancy); and
  
  
• a certificate of attendance (as opposed to a medical certificate) at a registered medical practitioner, nurse or midwife (as opposed to just a registered medical practitioner) being acceptable proof in respect of a claim for sickness allowance where a female employee is attending a medical examination in relation to her pregnancy.

For more information, please visit our previous article.