How does sick leave work?

My helper is pregnant — what should I do?

Pregnancy is NOT grounds for termination — under the Employment Ordinance, dismissing a helper because of pregnancy is unlawful and can carry significant penalties. Once a helper has been employed continuously for at least 40 weeks, she is entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave (increased from 10 weeks in December 2020). The pay is 4/5 of her average daily wages; weeks 11–14 are subject to a maximum cap of HKD 80,000, and employers can apply to the Government for reimbursement of those four weeks under the Reimbursement of Maternity Leave Pay Scheme. Discuss continuation, hand-over, and replacement coverage as early as possible. Consult the Labour Department for the latest entitlements.