The Hong Kong government plans to increase annual leave for non-civil-service contract staff from 12 days to 17 as of April 1, according to a paper submitted to the Legislative Council.

The legislature will debate the plan on Monday.

The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) — the city's largest labor group — welcomed the proposal, saying it believes the plan could improve the current situation of unequal pay for equal work. It also urged the government to grant outsourced contractors 17 days of annual leave.

Ma Chi-shing, chairman of the FTU's Government Employee Association, said there are some 50,000 outsourced contractors in various government departments, with huge gaps in salary and benefits among civil servants.

Ma said the government should abandon outsourced service contracts and treat all employees equally.