CONFIDENTIAL
11
P
機密
Werking Group arrived at certain conclusions and recommendations,
which are set out in the following paragraphs.
Length of ternity leave
3.3
Under the Employment Ordinance a female employee
having completed the necessary qualifying period of service is
cntitled to about 10 wooks maternity leave. Since the ILO minimum
standard is 12 vooks and the norm in East and South-east Asia is
about 8 weeks, Hong Kong almost untches the ILO standard and is
superior to most of its neighbouring countries in this respect.
Having regard to the fact that there has been no pressure in Hong
Kong to increase the length of raternity leave and that 10 weeks
is appropriate from the medical print of view (as advised by the Medical and Health Department), the Working Group reconnends that
the present provision of about 10 weeks should remain unchanged.
Pay entitlement during maternity leave
3.4
Employers in Hong Kong are at present not legally required
to pay their employees during maternity leave although paid maternity
leave is a fairly common practice in many industrial, commercial and
service establishments in Hong Kong, particularly for monthly rated
employees. Having regard to the fact that ILO Conventions require
the payment of a cash benefit during maternity leave and that maternity
leave is also paid in the United Kingdom and in 7 neighbouring Asian countries, the Working Group concludes that if Hong Kong was to achieve
broad comparability with its neighbouring countries in the matter of
maternity leave, such love should be paid. It reconnunds that a female
employee should be paid whilst on maternity leave. The rate of pay
entitlement will be dealt with in paragraphs 3.10 - 3.11 below.
Nothed of funding benefits
3.5
Although the advocates of increased maternity benefits
have not made speċific proposals as regards the nothed of funding
for these benefits, the Working Group considered it inportant to
cxamine possible alternatives. The method recommended should be
one which is bust suited to Hong Kong's present circumstances.
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