Macao raises maternity leave to 90 days

A bill raising statutory maternity leave for Macao’s private sector workers is to take effect soon, following its passage through the Legislative Assembly on 21 July. The change lifts paid maternity leave from 70 to 90 days, matching what civil servants already receive.

Under the new framework, 60 of the 90 days must be taken immediately after childbirth, with the remaining 30 days flexible, before or after delivery, at the mother’s discretion.

Secretary for Economy and Finance Ng Wai Han said the government would also make its maternity leave subsidy scheme for small and medium enterprises permanent from 2027, covering 20 days of pay per eligible employee. During the transition period between the new law’s start and the end of this year, employers can claim a combined 34-day subsidy (the original 14-day scheme plus the new 20-day allowance) before it settles at the standard 20 days from January.

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Ng said the transitional arrangement was designed to offset the cost pressure on smaller businesses from the leave increase taking effect ahead of schedule. A public consultation held between January and March drew more than 10,000 submissions, according to the Labour Affairs Bureau, with responses broadly supportive of the 20-day subsidy figure.

Paternity leave remains unchanged at five days under the amendment.

Mandatory annual leave entitlements are also being reviewed. Under an amendment to take effect in early 2027, annual leave entitlements will be scaled up according to an employee’s time at a company, topping out at 12 working days once an employee reaches 12 years of service.

The government is also working with the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau to add an annual leave calculator to its Macao One Account app for individuals and its business services platform, letting employees and employers check entitlements once the system is built and tested.