Chief Executive Mr. John Lee delivered his third Policy Address on October 16, 2024. Under the theme "Reform for Enhancing Development and Building our Future Together", the Policy Address emphasizes continuous reforms and improvements in policies affecting people's well-being. We welcome the initiatives mentioned in the Policy Address, particularly in caregiving and health. We commend the government's proactive measures, such as introducing childcare leave for employees, which could set an example for other companies to follow and further promote carer- and family-friendly workplaces. Below are recommendations we believe can further improve the situation for women.
Enhancing the Role of the Commissioner for Women Affairs
In last year's Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced the establishment of a Women's Affairs Unit under the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and appointed a Commissioner of Women Affairs to promote women's issues. Over the past year, the Commissioner and the team have taken steps like hosting the inaugural "Family and Women Development Summit 2024", creating an information platform for families and women, and launching a pilot scheme for alimony mediation.
We suggest strengthening the Commissioner's role to focus more on policy coordination to improve women's welfare, rather than solely event coordination. The government could take inspiration from other commissioners, such as the Commissioner for Rehabilitation, whose role includes developing overarching strategies and coordinating across government departments, public bodies, and NGOs.
We also hope the Family and Women Development Summit will become a regular, larger-scale event to unite stakeholders and gather consensus on women's development.
Creating Career Planning for Carers and Establishing a Carer Database
Carer support has garnered increasing attention in recent years. The government launched a three-year "Care the Carers Campaign" initiative, which includes services like a one-stop carer information platform and a 24-hour support hotline. By March 2024, the hotline had received 14,600 calls, demonstrating high demand for these services.
We recommend establishing district-based carer support centres that offer continuous assistance, including career planning services, enabling carers to regain a sense of agency and explore personal goals.
Additionally, the proposed carer database could help society better understand their needs. We urge the government to make non-personal data publicly available to enhance service planning and fill service gaps effectively.
Promoting Family-Friendly Workplaces
The government's proposal to provide childcare leave for employees with children under three is commendable. Such measures challenge traditional stereotypes of women as sole carers and encourage shared family responsibilities.
To address the shortage of community childcare services, we recommend incentivizing large corporations to establish small childcare facilities in their offices. This approach could inspire others to adopt similar family-friendly policies, enabling carers to return to the workforce more easily.
Enhancing Women's Health and Sports Participation
We support the proposal to integrate women's health services into District Health Centres (DHCs), making services more accessible. The Policy Address also emphasizes mental health support, which aligns with our mental health screening services for women, launched in 2018. Expanding such services within DHCs can prevent mental health issues from worsening.
Furthermore, promoting women's participation in sports through DHC networks and social welfare organizations could improve physical and mental well-being, reduce caregiving stress, and strengthen social bonds.
Reforming Maintenance Order Enforcement and Creating a Dedicated Department
The recently launched "Maintenance Mediation Pilot Scheme" is a positive step. However, we suggest reforming the Income Attachment Order process to bypass employer consent and directly deduct salaries for alimony payments.
We also advocate for establishing a dedicated statutory department to handle alimony matters, coordinate follow-ups, and introduce stricter penalties for non-compliance to safeguard the financial stability of divorced families.
Strengthening Labor Protection for Women in Part-Time Jobs
The proposed amendment to the "418" rule under the Employment Ordinance—lowering the threshold to 68 hours over four weeks—is insufficient to address the core issue of labor rights for part-time workers.
Since many women in part-time jobs do not qualify for paid leave or other benefits, we propose requiring employers to provide proportional benefits to part-time employees, ensuring equity in labor rights.
Promoting Gender Equality Education
We believe education is crucial for fostering a culture of gender equality. Introducing gender-themed curricula at various educational stages can help students respect gender differences and combat discrimination. Additionally, equipping teachers to identify and address gender inequality in schools can prevent tragedies and nurture a fairer society.
By implementing these measures, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for women, caregivers, and families in Hong Kong.