In response to media enquiries, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) issued a statement today (9 March 2012) to clarify its position on paternity leave for its staff.

“The EOC has long been a staunch supporter of family-friendly employment policies and work-life balance for all employees, including our own,” said Mr. LAM Woon-kwong, the EOC Chairperson. “We recognize that the family is the basic foundation of society, and efforts must be made to provide encouragement and care for working parents, both men and women, who also have responsibilities to their children. That is why we have been closely monitoring the Government’s initiative to consider granting male civil servants paid paternity leave and to consider making this provision a statutory requirement for all employers. We believe that these measures will enable and encourage husbands to give crucial support to their wives after giving birth, thus strengthening family cohesiveness and relieving the stress of couples with new babies.”

“As a Government-subvented agency, our terms and services should not, as a general principle and taken as a whole, exceed those of the Civil Service,” added Mr. Lam. “We will closely monitor the Government’s decision on how and when to implement their policy on paternity leave and other family-friendly measures, and assess how to adjust EOC’s terms accordingly,” said Mr. Lam.
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For media enquiries, please contact Ms. Mariana LAW at 2106-2226.

Equal Opportunities Commission
9 March 2012