With or without kids, women aren't favoured by Hong Kong employers: Study

Under the Family Status Discrimination Ordinance passed in Hong Kong in 1997, it is unlawful to discriminate on the basis of family status

With or without children, women aren’t favored in hiring by Hong Kong employers, new research by the Equal Opportunities Commission and Chinese University of Hong Kong shows.

The commission surveyed 102 employers in the city. When reviewing mock resumes of candidates with equal qualifications, only 37.4 per cent of the employers said they’d recruit a woman “without family status” -- meaning those who aren’t caring for children or elderly relatives. Fewer than half -- 47.2 per cent -- said they’d favor hiring women with children. That compares with 70 per cent for men with children -- the most popular candidates.