After much heated debate over the years, the Minimum Wage Ordinance (Cap. 608) (“Ordinance”) came into force in Hong Kong on 1 May 2011. Before the implementation of the Ordinance, Hong Kong was one of the few places in the world without any sort of minimum wage law. The Ordinance is undoubtedly a milestone as far as the protection of the rights of employees, particularly low-income workers, in Hong Kong is concerned.
Wynne Mok
First Discrimination Law Review in Hong Kong: the implications in an employment context
By Wynne Mok & Rebecca Hui on
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has launched its first comprehensive review of the four anti-discrimination ordinances relating to gender, disability, family status and race since they came into force as long ago as the late 1990’s and is seeking opinions from the public on its proposed extension of protection from discrimination.
Background
The…
Whistleblowing – what protection do employees have in Hong Kong?
By Wynne Mok & Rebecca Hui on
Notwithstanding the growing global trend in the adoption of express whistleblowing laws (e.g. the US, the UK and Japan), the Hong Kong government has not yet shown any sign of following suit. So, what protection do employees have if they “blow their whistles” on wrongdoers in their workplace?
Whistleblowing protection under statue/common law
There is…
Employees’ rights to holiday in Hong Kong
By Wynne Mok & Valarie Fung on
Hong Kong is often called the city where “East meets West”. One happy result of this conjunction is that Hong Kong employees become entitled to statutory Chinese and Western holidays.
Under the Employment Ordinance (Chapter 57 of the Laws of Hong Kong) employees in Hong Kong are entitled to 12 statutory holidays per…
Working fathers expect to have paternity leave entitlement in Hong Kong soon
By Wynne Mok & Rebecca Hui on
In the absence of mandatory paternity leave, balancing work and family life has been a challenge for working parents with a newborn, or for parents-to-be, in Hong Kong.
Currently, only male government employees are entitled to a 5-day paternity leave on full pay. If a male employee working in the private sector wishes to take…