Hong Kong civil servants get hourly family care leave from 2027, private sector resists

Hong Kong civil servants will be able to apply for flexible family care leave by the hour from early 2027, the South China Morning Post has learned, as part of a government initiative to encourage higher birth rates.

Annual entitlement and usage details

Civil servants expect to receive an annual entitlement of 10 to 12 hours of family care leave under the new arrangement. The leave can be used for personal matters such as accompanying family members to hospital or attending parent-teacher meetings, according to a government source.

The Civil Service Bureau was formulating details and would conduct further consultation with government employees, the insider added.

Private sector hesitant to adopt policy

Business leaders have warned that the private sector has little incentive to follow the government's lead, citing manpower and financial constraints, especially for smaller firms. The flexible leave policy forms part of the wider government drive to boost birth rates in the city.

Under the "promote fertility" section of the policy address delivered on Wednesday, the government said it would introduce family care leave for its employees to enhance family-friendly measures.

Source: South China Morning Post