HRD chats to an international legal expert about firing people in Singapore, Hong Kong and China and what notice periods you are legally obligated to give
For regional HRDs, a keen awareness of local employment law for each relevant jurisdiction is required since even something like notice periods can vary from one country to another.
HRD talked to Caroline Berube, managing partner of HJM Asia Law about the differences between legal requirements for notice periods in Singapore, Hong Kong and China when firing an employee.
Singapore
In Singapore, “the notice period must be the same for the employer and employee. It should be according to the written contract, or verbal agreement, if there is no written contract,” she said.
If the contract does not specify a notice period, the following applies:
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, the shortest period of notice legally allowed in any contract is seven days.
During the probation period if the notice period isn’t specified in the contract, it is “seven days minimum after the completion of the first month,” says Berube.
After probation, the period of notice is then one month if nothing is mentioned in the contract.
China
In China, Berube said a notice period of 30 days is permitted for the following reasons:
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HRD talked to Caroline Berube, managing partner of HJM Asia Law about the differences between legal requirements for notice periods in Singapore, Hong Kong and China when firing an employee.
Singapore
In Singapore, “the notice period must be the same for the employer and employee. It should be according to the written contract, or verbal agreement, if there is no written contract,” she said.
If the contract does not specify a notice period, the following applies:
| Length of service | Notice period |
| Less than 26 weeks | 1 day |
| 26 weeks to less than 2 years | 1 week |
| 2 years to less than 5 years | 2 weeks |
| 5 years and above | 4 weeks |
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, the shortest period of notice legally allowed in any contract is seven days.
During the probation period if the notice period isn’t specified in the contract, it is “seven days minimum after the completion of the first month,” says Berube.
After probation, the period of notice is then one month if nothing is mentioned in the contract.
China
In China, Berube said a notice period of 30 days is permitted for the following reasons:
- An employee is unfit for duty in their original role or any other position arranged by the employer after they finish treatment for an accident or illness
- An employee’s skills are unsuitable even after training or being moved into a new position
- The contract is impossible to execute after a change of objective context of the terms and both parties cannot reach an agreement on the matter. This can refer to fundamental changes in the contract and/or large changes in economic factors.
| Country | Notice period |
| Singapore | Between one day and four weeks depending on time employee has been with the company |
| Hong Kong | A minimum of seven days |
| China | 30 days provided specific conditions are met |
Related stories:
Retrenchment masterclass: What HRDs need to know
Senior exec awarded S$649k in early termination dispute
Terminating an absent employee – what you need to know
