Hong Kong to revise weekly working hours threshold of the 'continuous contract' requirement to 17 hours

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The amendment ordinance will come into operation on the first Sunday after six months upon its gazettal, once the Bill has passed the first and second readings at the LegCo on 16 April.

The HKSAR Government has published the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2025 (the Bill) in the Gazette on 11 April 2025.

According to the amendment, the weekly working hours threshold of the 'continuous contract' requirement under the Employment Ordinance (Chapter 57) (EO) will be lowered from 18 hours to 17 hours.

In addition, if the sum of the working hours of that week, and those of the three weeks immediately preceding it, reaches 68 hours, a week with less than 17 working hours will still be regarded as a period under the 'continuous contract' of employment.

This move aims to make it easier for employees to meet the revised 'continuous contract' requirement, and thus be able to enjoy comprehensive employment benefits.

A spokesperson for the Labour Department stated that the existing eligibility criteria for employees to enjoy various statutory benefits under the EO will remain unchanged.

The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council (LegCo) for the first and second readings on 16 April. Once passed, the amendment ordinance will come into operation on the first Sunday after six months upon its gazettal.