Deputy Minister of Human Resources Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib has issued strong words of warning to private sector employers who do not respect the government’s new edict, proposing 90 days of maternity leave: respect the rules or face investigation and prosecution.
The welcome change for new mothers, bringing the leave from 60 days to 90 for the private sector, as well as public, was part of the Prime Minister’s Budget 2018.
In a debate in the senate today, he added that if a private sector employer were to terminate a female staff for taking her 90-day leave, it is within her right to report the matter and the ministry will then act.
The deputy minister today outlined that the proposed leave extension would roll-out in two phases, initially allowing stakeholder to give their views and feedback before then amending the constitution in its second phase.
While 90 days is certainly welcome progress, Nordic countries like Finland and Denmark still lead the world in allocated time off, with Finland offering new mothers seven weeks leave before their baby’s birth, 16 weeks post-birth paid leave (regardless of employment statys), and eight weeks paternity leave. Denmark offers new mother a total of 18 weeks paid-leave, four before the baby’s birth, and 14 thereafter, all at full pay.
There we go, as good as we get, we’ll never quite match the generosity of our Nordic friends. It’s OK – we have better weather and food – so it all balances out in the end. Wink.
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