Source: Fortune
Summary
Hong Kong’s fertility rate has hit a record low of 0.8 children per woman, with registered births falling to just over 31,000 in 2025. Long working hours and high childcare costs contribute to the decline. Rosewood Hotels, owned by Hong Kong’s billionaire Cheng family, has introduced a parental leave policy offering 16 weeks of fully paid leave to all employees, regardless of gender or seniority. This move puts Rosewood ahead of statutory minimums across most of Asia and comes at a time when other companies, such as Deloitte and Zoom, are cutting back on parental benefits.
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The numbers tell one story.
Rosewood Hotels is taking a different approach to addressing the low birth rate in Hong Kong, offering 16 weeks of paid parental leave to all employees. This move comes as other companies in Asia are cutting back on parental benefits. Rosewood’s policy applies globally and is gender-neutral, aiming to remove the stigma from taking leave. The company will track the policy’s impact on return-to-work rates, engagement, and career progression.
The announcement sounds like a calculated move to attract and retain skilled hospitality workers in a competitive market.
Author: Evan Null
