The Hong Kong Employment Ordinance [link to HK employment ordinance] clearly states the main terms and conditions of Hong Kong employment laws. The Employment Ordinance covers all employees, regardless of whether they are full-time, part-time or temporarily employed, excluding the following:
- A family member who lives in the same dwelling as the employer;
- An employee as defined in the Contracts for Employment Outside Hong Kong Ordinance;
- A person serving under a crew agreement under the Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Ordinance, or on board a ship which is not registered in Hong Kong; and
- An apprentice whose contract of apprenticeship has been registered under the Apprenticeship Ordinance, other than certain provisions of the Employment Ordinance.
All employees under the Ordinance are entitled to the rights and protection mentioned therein. Basic terms and conditions of employment are defined which must be met as a minimum standard. If an employee is not covered by the Employment Ordinance, a mutual contractual agreement with dictate the terms and conditions between employer and employee.