[Namibia] Paternity leave for public servants under consideration

Namibian Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has announced that her government would consider a motion supporting the introduction of paternity leave, The Namibian reports.

Ms Kuugongelwa-Amadhila made the comments this week as part of contributions to the motion tabled in the National Assembly by Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member Winnie Moongo, calling for five months’ maternity leave with full pay and the introduction of paternity leave to Namibia’s legal framework.

“The investigations we are conducting include paternity leave,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the government’s efforts are at an advanced stage.

“ … as indicated, there are certain circumstances that may warrant that the father comes in to support where the mother is rendered unable by illness, for example, or they unfortunately passed away during the delivery of the child,” Ms Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.

The Social Security Commission (SSC) reportedly has yet to make any recommendation to the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation to introduce paternity leave to the Labour Act.

In the same debate, labour minister Utoni Nujoma said the act in its current form does not cater for paternity leave.“The Labour Act is under review. It is noted that the issue of paternity leave should possibly be included,” he said.

Extended maternity leave

The prime minister also reportedly acknowledged that the current benefit structure for maternity leave needs to be revisited.

SCC chief executive Milka Mungunda said the commission has begun consultations to increase the period of maternity leave from three to four months, along with benefits.

Ms Mungunda was commenting on a motion which was tabled in September.

Ms Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the current maternity leave dispensation could be improved significantly, describing it as “sub-optimal”.

Pregnant women currently receive a maximum of N$ 13,000 per month, regardless of their salary structure.

The new benefit involves 100 per cent of women’s basic wage, with a maximum of N$ 15,000 per month.

The amended maternity leave benefits are payable over a maximum of 12 weeks.

The need for extended leave

Expectant mothers had previously opted to work until their due date to mitigate potential financial losses.

The prime minister said that for this reason, it has been observed that women in the public service would opt to use their annual leave to avoid their salaries being cut by 50 per cent.

“That is what I did when I had my two children. I didn’t go on maternity leave, I went on vacation leave so that I do not lose the benefits,” she said.

Source: The Namibian

(Quotes via original reporting)

Namibian Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has announced that her government would consider a motion supporting the introduction of paternity leave, The Namibian reports.

Ms Kuugongelwa-Amadhila made the comments this week as part of contributions to the motion tabled in the National Assembly by Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member Winnie Moongo, calling for five months’ maternity leave with full pay and the introduction of paternity leave to Namibia’s legal framework.

“The investigations we are conducting include paternity leave,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the government’s efforts are at an advanced stage.

“ … as indicated, there are certain circumstances that may warrant that the father comes in to support where the mother is rendered unable by illness, for example, or they unfortunately passed away during the delivery of the child,” Ms Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.

The Social Security Commission (SSC) reportedly has yet to make any recommendation to the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation to introduce paternity leave to the Labour Act.

In the same debate, labour minister Utoni Nujoma said the act in its current form does not cater for paternity leave.“The Labour Act is under review. It is noted that the issue of paternity leave should possibly be included,” he said.

Extended maternity leave

The prime minister also reportedly acknowledged that the current benefit structure for maternity leave needs to be revisited.

SCC chief executive Milka Mungunda said the commission has begun consultations to increase the period of maternity leave from three to four months, along with benefits.

Ms Mungunda was commenting on a motion which was tabled in September.

Ms Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the current maternity leave dispensation could be improved significantly, describing it as “sub-optimal”.

Pregnant women currently receive a maximum of N$ 13,000 per month, regardless of their salary structure.

The new benefit involves 100 per cent of women’s basic wage, with a maximum of N$ 15,000 per month.

The amended maternity leave benefits are payable over a maximum of 12 weeks.

The need for extended leave

Expectant mothers had previously opted to work until their due date to mitigate potential financial losses.

The prime minister said that for this reason, it has been observed that women in the public service would opt to use their annual leave to avoid their salaries being cut by 50 per cent.

“That is what I did when I had my two children. I didn’t go on maternity leave, I went on vacation leave so that I do not lose the benefits,” she said.

Source: The Namibian

(Quotes via original reporting)