Former Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Ramesh Dookhoo on Monday stated that while the Government’s proposal for six months of maternity leave was commendable, it would put a strain on the Private Sector.
Dookhoo said although the proposal was “nice sounding” and creditable on the Government’s end, it would cost both parties money.
“I’m already hearing murmurs from the Private Sector that it will be costly for them,” he said.
Recently, the Social Protection Ministry, along with the Public Health Ministry, announced a proposed six months’ maternity leave for mothers, and two weeks’ paternity leave for fathers.
Currently, the mandate for three months of maternity leave contradicts the World Health Organisation (WHO) call for mothers to breastfeed their babies for six months. The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has highlighted the need to support women in balancing work and family, especially when it comes to breastfeeding their babies. Public health recommendations are based on research that established health benefits from breastfeeding, ranging from reduced infections and improved IQ in babies, to lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer in mothers.
PAHO added that promoting breastfeeding in the workplace increases benefits for employers, including superior employee loyalty to companies as a result of gratitude and satisfaction, and reduced absenteeism because breastfeeding employees’ babies get sick less often and less severely.
Thus, PAHO recommended that employers implement policies, including paid maternity leave, paid breaks for breastfeeding, a dedicated room for breastfeeding in the workplace that is private and hygienic, and flexible or reduced working hours for breastfeeding mothers.
WHO had further advised that Governments implement the maternity protection legislation and related measures consistent with the International Labour Organisation’s 2000 Maternity Protection Convention, which calls for at least 14 weeks of paid maternity leave for new mothers, as well as breastfeeding breaks and facilities in the workplace.
Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence has indicated that the Ministry hoped to have the proposal brought before Parliament in 2017.
Alluding to the financial implications of this move, Dookhoo added, “Cost is a big thing for the Private Sector if someone is off of their job for six months, then you would have to have someone to replace them and that means you would be paying two salaries, but it is good.”
Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, has long bemoaned the fact that mothers were currently only able to breastfeed for three months. He pointed out that if the health sector would recommend six months’ exclusive breastfeeding, there should be discussions about mothers being granted six months’ leave.
The Public Health Minister stated that while this might burden employers; in the long run, it would be worth it.
