Currently, the majority of employees in blue-collar jobs (around 1.2 million) are only entitled to 12 days of statutory holidays each year, despite the government listing 17 general holidays. If an employer states in the employment agreement that their employees are only allowed to take the 12 statutory days of holiday, they can legally make them work the remaining five days.
These additional days are being introduced as part of a government initiative to help grassroots and the underprivileged in Hong Kong.
From 2022 to 2030, the following statutory holidays will be phased in:
2022 - Buddha's Birthday
2024 – The first weekday after Christmas Day
2026 – Easter Monday
2028 – Good Friday
2030 – The day following Good Friday
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