According to the SCMP, welfare minister Matthew Cheung came under fire from both sides for introducing mandatory paid paternity leave which proposes to give new fathers three days off on 80 per cent pay by both public and private employers.
A pro-business lawmaker said that the new law will be “scary” for the industry (obviously he’s never had to care for a newborn) while unionist lawmakers demand five days of paternity leave at full pay. They also demand standard working hours for the labour sector.
If Hong Kong ever hopes to become a truly cosmopolitan and world-class city, start catching up to basic worker rights that’s taken for granted in developed countries like Europe, Australia, and Canada, where paid paternity leave is at least two weeks long!
Photo: Toshimasa Ishibashi, Flickr
