The Employment (Amendment) (No.3) Ordinance 2018 (Ordinance) comes into operation on 18 January 2019. According to the Ordinance, male employees with child born on or after 18 January 2019 are entitled to 5 days’ paternity leave for each confinement of their spouse/partner if they fulfil other requirements as stipulated in law. The employees have to give their employer prior notification as required by law before taking the leave. For further information, please click here.

The Employment (Amendment) (No.2) Ordinance 2018 comes into operation on 19 October 2018. Where an employee has been unreasonably and unlawfully dismissed on or after 19 October 2018 and the employee makes a claim for reinstatement or re-engagement, the Labour Tribunal may make an order for reinstatement or re-engagement without the need to secure the employer’s agreement if the Tribunal considers that the making of such an order is appropriate and practicable. If the employer eventually does not reinstate or re-engage the employee as required by the order, the employer shall pay to the employee a further sum, amounting to three times the employee’s average monthly wages and subject to a ceiling of $72,500. The employer commits an offence if he/she wilfully and without reasonable excuse fails to pay the further sum. For further information, please click here.