Parental leave policy

The Senate has passed the Maternity and Paternity Leave Bill 2018 making it mandatory for employers to grant six months paid maternity leave and three months paid paternity leave.

The bill was passed by a majority of votes even though several lawmakers opposed it, and will now be sent to the National Assembly for debate before it becomes law. As per the bill, the leave policy will be applicable in both public and private establishments separately from official leaves. The bill also provides an additional three months maternity and one month paternity leave which would be unpaid.

Parental leave is an employment right guaranteed in most countries. Most developed countries, except the United States, have a national statutory paid parental leave. It is also illegal to discriminate against a pregnant employee. It is the employer’s responsibility to assess the risks to such an employee and their baby which can be caused by heavy lifting, standing up or sitting for long periods, inadequate breaks, exposure to toxic substances, or working long hours.

Research has shown that a child’s development occurs at an early stage which shapes their health and well-being. This requires the presence of both parents who can also support each other. Parents need time, resources and support to nurture their children beyond the early stages, but infancy is a vulnerable period.

Paid parental leave provides working parents with time off from work to focus on the birth of their child with their earning intact to support them. This provides time to care for and bond with their infant, establish feed as well as care routine and medical needs. It also provides mothers who have gone through childbirth to recover physically.

The fact that Pakistan has passed a bill on parental leave is a welcome move and a step in the right direction. It is regretful that women are not provided maternity leave in the public sector. Many women are forced to quit their jobs during childbirth sometimes even for several months or years until the child grows up. They have to give up on their career and job prospects to tend to child care.

Not everyone was in favor of the bill as many lawmakers questioned its practicality, stating that a law for a ninety days maternity leave already exists, while others suggested lowering the number of days off. It is encouraging that such issues are being discussed in Pakistan which can have positive effects on the economy and improve gender equality.