The Government published the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the Gazette today (March 5). 
      
     The Bill seeks to amend the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) to increase progressively the number of statutory holidays (SHs), from 12 days by five increments at two-year intervals each until it reaches 17 days on a par with the number of general holidays (GHs) other than Sundays.
      
     A spokesman for the Labour Department said, "The five additional days of SHs should fall on GHs that are currently not SHs and be increased in the following sequence: the Birthday of the Buddha, the first weekday after Christmas Day, Easter Monday, Good Friday, and the day following Good Friday.
      
     "Subject to smooth passage of the Bill, the first additional SH will be designated in 2022 and the alignment of the number of SHs and GHs will be achieved by 2030," the spokesman added.
      
     The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council on March 17.

Ends/Friday, March 5, 2021
Issued at HKT 11:00

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