There is no way Bill on paternity leave can be passed by end of year – Gamey

Government’s push to introduce paternity leave by the end of 2024 is receiving mixed reaction.

Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam during the Mid-Year Budget presentation to Parliament on Tuesday July 23, said the policy will enable men offer assistance to their wives.

Dr. Adam stated that government, in collaboration with its social partners, has developed a draft Labour Bill, 2024 aimed at strengthening labour administration and regulating the world of work.

In the draft bill, male workers will be eligible to apply for five days of paternity leave within three months of their wife’s or surrogate’s childbirth, or following the adoption of a child under one-year-old.

Maternity leave in the draft bill, he said has been increased from 14 to 16 weeks. But labour consultant Austin Gamey has expressed doubt about the bill being passed before the end of 2024.

‘‘Parliament is closing any moment from now, and will be back in November and they are busy campaigning. Labour law is not one of the traditional laws you can just wake up and pass. It will take a hell of time to pass it. So, I do not believe it can be passed now, but is a good thing to put it in the law,” he stated.

He said some organisations have paternity leave in their conditions of service.

‘‘For now, we have it in many collective agreements, some in conditions of service. I implement it for my workers but if you want to make it legal, it can be made legal, but we must know the consequences for it,’’ he said.

The bill is being sponsored by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Source:onuaonline.com