It takes time to discuss whether to unify general holidays and statutory holidays and come to a consensus before introducing relevant legislation, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung says.
Mr Cheung made the statement in response to a lawmaker who proposed to put the issue forward in a private member's bill in the Legislative Council.
The labour chief said this matter is not simple and has been discussed by the Labour Advisory Board for some time. It is now engaged in serious discussion on the way forward.
He pointed out the differences between the two sets of holidays, which are labour benefits versus institutional holidays.
He explained that general holidays are institutional holidays, and whether employees can enjoy the right to have the holiday is a matter for negotiation between employers and employees.
The 12 statutory holidays are inscribed in the law and are labour benefits. Employees are protected by the law and entitled to full pay if they satisfy the Employment Ordinance requirement.
Mr Cheung stressed that the bureau is concerned about the issue and the Labour Department had initiated a study earlier to find out the number of Hong Kong employees enjoying general holidays and statutory holidays respectively.
As the data is being examined, with a view to building consensus in the Labour Advisory Board, he believes it is premature to consider legislation at this stage.
