On 18 June 2025, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (LegCo) passed the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2025, introducing key changes to the definition of a “continuous contract” under the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57). These changes aim to better reflect evolving work patterns while strengthening compliance and protection for part-time employees – and will come into effect from 18 January 2026.
What are the key changes?
The revised rules introduce the following updates:
- Weekly Threshold Lowered: The current threshold of 18 working hours per week will be reduced to 17 hours.
- New Four-Week Calculation Option (the “468 Rule”): Employees will now also qualify as being continuously employed if their total working hours across any four consecutive weeks amount to at least 68 hours – even if one or more of those weeks fall below 17 hours individually.
This revision offers greater flexibility for both employers and employees. It helps avoid disruption in an employee’s continuity of service due to occasional reductions in weekly hours, thereby making it easier for part-time and non-standard workers to qualify for employment protections such as paid statutory holidays and annual leave.
The reform addresses a long-standing loophole – particularly in sectors such as retail, catering, and security. The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 will be officially gazetted on 27 June 2025, with the new rules taking effect from 18 January 2026.
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For further information on the above announcement, please head over to the official government website.
