Employers to get up to 34 days of maternity leave subsidies through December

Employers can claim up to 34 days of maternity leave subsidies for births through December, and 20 days from next year, under an extended government scheme.

Following the legislative amendment extending paid maternity leave from 70 to 90 days, the local government has published an administrative regulation establishing a permanent maternity leave subsidy mechanism to support small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) employers, reduce financial pressure, and promote more stable labor relations. The regulation comes into force the day after its official publication, with legal effect retroactive to July 28, 2026.

The Executive Council (ExCo) has concluded its discussion of the draft Administrative Regulation on the maternity leave subsidy scheme and held a press conference, with executive council spokesman and Secretary for Administration and Justice Wong Sio Chak announcing that eligible employers who have paid maternity leave compensation to local female employees who gave birth on or after July 28 this year may apply to the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) within a specified period for a subsidy equivalent to up to 20 days of the employee’s basic salary.

He further clarified: “For births taking place between July 28 and December 31 this year, eligible employers may apply for up to 34 days of maternity leave compensation. From January 1, 2027, employers will continue to be entitled to a 20-day subsidy under this administrative regulation.”

According to DSAL, the temporary subsidy program, which ran from May 26, 2023, to June 30 this year, processed 157 applications and disbursed approximately MOP1.52 million. With the new regulation now in effect, an estimated 100 applications are projected by the end of October, involving subsidies of around MOP1 million. Officials have underscored that adequate budgetary provisions have been made to support the scheme.