LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senator Quratulain Marri has said that paid paternity leave was not three months but rather 30 days for father.
While speaking in an interview, Senator Marri clarified that the part of a bill concerning paternity leave was misinterpreted in media as the paternity leave was of 30 days, not 3 months.
“As far as the mother is concerned, she can avail 6 months leave for the first child, 4 months for a second child and 3 months for a third child. After that it will be unpaid leave,” she said.
She further said that a father could avail leave of thirty days thrice in his work life. The bill has been proposed for both public and private leave, she added.
The Senate earlier on Monday passed a Maternity and Paternity Leave Bill, 2018, which makes it mandatory for employers to grant paid maternity and paternity leave to employees.
The bill was presented by Senator Quratulain Marri. It was passed with a majority of votes, even as government senators opposed the move. It will now be sent to the National Assembly for debate.
The bill also provides protection for workers who apply for maternity and paternity leaves, ensuring that those who apply for them cannot be terminated from their jobs. The bill is applicable to Islamabad.
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