Parliament finalises maternity-paternity leave draft bill

The Parliament has finalized the draft bill for extending maternity leave and introducing paternity leave.

The Labour (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was introduced by Member of Parliament, Francis-Xavier Sosu of Madina.

The bill proposes amending section 54 of the Labour Act to grant male workers a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of four weeks of paternity leave in addition to their annual leave, provided they have a medical certificate confirming the expected date of their spouse’s confinement. Male workers would receive full benefits and remuneration during their paternity leave, which can be extended if circumstances such as a caesarean section or stillbirth arise.

The bill also allows male workers who adopt a child under three months to take paternity leave.

In addition, the bill proposes amending section 57 of the Labour Act to extend maternity leave to seventeen to twenty-six weeks and include provisions for women who adopt a child under three months. Maternity leave may be extended by two weeks in case of abnormal confinement, cesarean section, stillbirth, or the birth of twins or more.

Furthermore, a new clause for flexible working conditions for pregnant or lactating female workers is included in the bill. Employers must respond in writing within fourteen days to any requests for flexible working conditions.

The draft bill will now be gazetted and presented for the first reading in Parliament before being referred to a committee for review.

Sosu initiated the bill in October 2023 and held a stakeholders’ engagement in March 2024 to discuss its objectives, aiming to promote gender equality and create a fair, inclusive society.

As a Deputy Ranking member of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Sosu has initiated several other bills, with some already passed by Parliament and one receiving Presidential approval.