How annual leave works under the Employment Ordinance
Under the Employment Ordinance, an employee is entitled to annual leave with pay after having been employed under a continuous contract…
Under the Employment Ordinance, an employee is entitled to annual leave with pay after having been employed under a continuous contract for every 12 months. The entitlement then increases progressively from 7 days to a maximum of 14 days according to length of service.
| Year of service | Annual leave (days) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 7 |
| 2 | 7 |
| 3 | 8 |
| 4 | 9 |
| 5 | 10 |
| 6 | 11 |
| 7 | 12 |
| 8 | 13 |
| 9 or above | 14 |
Unlike some other jurisdictions, Hong Kong does not pro-rate a first partial year of service: no statutory annual leave is due until you complete your first full 12 months, at which point the first block of 7 days becomes due. If your employment ends after 3 but less than 12 months of service in a leave year, you are generally entitled to pro-rata annual leave pay for that partial year (other than for summary dismissal due to serious misconduct); once you have completed a full leave year, you are entitled to payment in lieu of any annual leave not yet taken.
Sickness allowance
Separately from annual leave, employees accumulate paid sickness days at a rate of 2 days for each completed month of employment during…
Separately from annual leave, employees accumulate paid sickness days at a rate of 2 days for each completed month of employment during the first 12 months, and 4 days for each completed month after that, up to a maximum of 120 accumulated days at any one time. Sickness allowance is payable once you have taken 4 or more consecutive days of sick leave, have enough accumulated paid sickness days, and the leave is supported by an appropriate medical certificate. The daily rate is four-fifths of your average daily wages over the preceding 12 months.
| Period of employment | Accumulation rate |
|---|---|
| First 12 months | 2 paid sickness days per completed month |
| After 12 months | 4 paid sickness days per completed month |
| Maximum accumulated | 120 days at any one time |
How this calculator counts service
Service is counted in completed whole months between your start date and your as-of date.
Service is counted in completed whole months between your start date and your as-of date. Your annual leave year-band is based on how many full 12-month periods of continuous employment you have completed; accumulated sickness days are estimated from the same completed months, capped at 120.
FAQ
How much annual leave do I get in Hong Kong?
Under the Employment Ordinance, paid annual leave rises with your length of service: 7 days for your 1st and 2nd year, 8 days in your 3rd year, then 1 more day each year, reaching 14 days from your 9th year of employment onward.
When do I first qualify for annual leave?
You qualify for annual leave with pay after being employed under a continuous contract for every 12 months. There is no day-by-day build-up during your first year: once you complete 12 months, your first block of 7 days becomes due.
Does annual leave keep increasing every year forever?
No. It rises year by year from 7 days up to a maximum of 14 days from the 9th year of employment onward, and stays at 14 days for every year after that unless your contract gives you more.
What happens to unused annual leave if I resign?
If you have been employed for a full leave year, you are entitled to payment in lieu of any annual leave not yet taken. If your employment ends with 3 to 12 months of service in the current leave year, you are generally entitled to pro-rata annual leave pay for that year, other than in a case of summary dismissal for serious misconduct with less than 12 months served in that leave year.
How does sickness allowance work?
You are entitled to sickness allowance if you are on paid sick leave for 4 or more consecutive days, you have accumulated enough paid sickness days, and the leave is supported by an appropriate medical certificate.
How many paid sick days can I accumulate?
Paid sickness days build up at 2 days for each completed month of employment during your first 12 months, then 4 days for each completed month after that, up to a maximum of 120 accumulated days at any one time.
What is the sickness allowance daily rate?
The daily rate is four-fifths (80%) of your average daily wages, calculated over the 12-month period before the sickness day (or a shorter period if you have been employed less than 12 months).
Is this calculator legal advice?
No, this tool applies the Employment Ordinance minimums published by the Labour Department to the details you enter, for general information only. It is not a substitute for your contract, your payslip, or the Labour Department's own guidance.
Sources
2 official sources
- Labour Department: A Concise Guide to the Employment Ordinance: Chapter 4 (Rest Days, Holidays and Leave) for the annual leave ladder and pro-rata termination rule, and Chapter 5 (Sickness Allowance) for accumulation rates, the 120-day cap and the four-fifths daily rate, all quoted above.
- Labour Department: A Concise Guide to the Employment Ordinance (index)
Figures checked against the Labour Department's Concise Guide to the Employment Ordinance. Last verified: September 2026.