[Ghana] Parliament considers bill amending maternity and paternity leave

In Ghana, a private member’s bill proposing an amendment that would extend maternity leave from three months to four months and bring in paid paternity leave has been introduced in Parliament, BusinessGhana reports.

The bill seeks to amend the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651). In addition to extended leave, it also contains an option for an additional two weeks of maternity leave in the case of a caesarean section (CS), stillbirth(s) or multiple births.

The Labour (Amendment) Bill, 2023 - known as ‘parental leave for all’ - also reportedly contains provisions for the introduction of paid paternity leave for a minimum of seven days and a maximum period of four weeks. Plus the option of an additional two weeks in case of caesarean, stillbirth(s) or multiple deliveries, to provide for related matters.

The amendments are intended to allow new mothers adequate time to give birth, exclusively breastfeed, care for and bond with their new baby and recover before returning to work.

The paid paternity leave provision is reportedly intended to enable men to take care of their wives and assist the new mothers with domestic chores.

Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu - the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina - is the bill’s sponsor. He submitted it to the Clerk-to-Parliament on October 6.

A memorandum accompanying the proposed bill stated that in November 1919, little more than 100 years ago, the first steps were taken to ensure the protection of pregnant women at work with the adoption of the Maternity Protection Convention at the International Labour Conference. It was the first gender equality international labour standard.

The memo said that the convention recognised the right to paid leave in relation to childbirth with employment protection and therefore maternity protection was one of the primary concerns of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Mr Sosu said that Ghana’s current maternal mortality rate was 350 out of 100,000 live births as of August 2022. This is well below the World Health Organisation's (WHO) accepted standard of 70 out of 100,000 live births.

Citing the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), the MP reportedly said the majority of maternal deaths were a result of bleeding during or after childbirth.

“As a result, the WHO recommends that pushing maternity leave to six months in order to allow for exclusive breastfeeding should be a priority, an assessment agreed to by the Ghana Medical Association.

“Thus, the purpose of maternity leave is to give new mothers adequate time to give birth, recover, care for and bond with their new baby before returning to work as the period of exclusive breastfeeding is important in ensuring that mothers are able to provide their children with adequate care,” he said.

Source: BusinessGhana

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Ghana, a private member’s bill proposing an amendment that would extend maternity leave from three months to four months and bring in paid paternity leave has been introduced in Parliament, BusinessGhana reports.

The bill seeks to amend the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651). In addition to extended leave, it also contains an option for an additional two weeks of maternity leave in the case of a caesarean section (CS), stillbirth(s) or multiple births.

The Labour (Amendment) Bill, 2023 - known as ‘parental leave for all’ - also reportedly contains provisions for the introduction of paid paternity leave for a minimum of seven days and a maximum period of four weeks. Plus the option of an additional two weeks in case of caesarean, stillbirth(s) or multiple deliveries, to provide for related matters.

The amendments are intended to allow new mothers adequate time to give birth, exclusively breastfeed, care for and bond with their new baby and recover before returning to work.

The paid paternity leave provision is reportedly intended to enable men to take care of their wives and assist the new mothers with domestic chores.

Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu - the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina - is the bill’s sponsor. He submitted it to the Clerk-to-Parliament on October 6.

A memorandum accompanying the proposed bill stated that in November 1919, little more than 100 years ago, the first steps were taken to ensure the protection of pregnant women at work with the adoption of the Maternity Protection Convention at the International Labour Conference. It was the first gender equality international labour standard.

The memo said that the convention recognised the right to paid leave in relation to childbirth with employment protection and therefore maternity protection was one of the primary concerns of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Mr Sosu said that Ghana’s current maternal mortality rate was 350 out of 100,000 live births as of August 2022. This is well below the World Health Organisation's (WHO) accepted standard of 70 out of 100,000 live births.

Citing the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), the MP reportedly said the majority of maternal deaths were a result of bleeding during or after childbirth.

“As a result, the WHO recommends that pushing maternity leave to six months in order to allow for exclusive breastfeeding should be a priority, an assessment agreed to by the Ghana Medical Association.

“Thus, the purpose of maternity leave is to give new mothers adequate time to give birth, recover, care for and bond with their new baby before returning to work as the period of exclusive breastfeeding is important in ensuring that mothers are able to provide their children with adequate care,” he said.

Source: BusinessGhana

(Quotes via original reporting)