
05/08/2025
𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘄 “𝟰𝟲𝟴 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲” 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
Starting 𝟭𝟴 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, Hong Kong will implement a major update to its Employment Ordinance — replacing the long-standing “418 rule” with a more flexible framework that better supports part-time and casual workers.
What’s Changing?
Current: 18 hours/week for 4 consecutive weeks
New:
• 𝟭𝟳 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀/𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟰 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 (𝟰𝟭𝟳 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲) or
• 𝟲𝟴 𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝟰 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 (𝟰𝟲𝟴 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲)
Employees meeting either threshold will now be considered under a continuous contract, granting access to statutory benefits such as holiday pay, sick leave, and maternity/paternity leave.
The amendment was gazetted on 27 June 2025 and takes effect 𝟭𝟴 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.
This change reflects Hong Kong’s move to modernise employment protections and accommodate today’s evolving work patterns.
Have questions about Hong Kong's employment compliance changes?
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