The Cabinet has decided to increase the three-month maternity leave to six months. The decision comes after the Royal Civil Service Commission forwarded three proposals to the Cabinet at the beginning of this month.
The proposals include extension of maternity leave from three months to six months and paternity leave from five to 10 working days.
Apart from the maternity leave, one of the proposals was parental leave of six months. According to the proposal, both the parents are eligible for the parental leave.
However, monthly salary for the parent, who uses the leave, will be half the basic salary during the parental leave, the proposal says. “Parental leave shall be entitled to the parents before the child attains the age of one year.”
Works and human settlement minister, Dorji Choden, who is also the National Commission for Women and Children’s Chairperson submitted a report titled Proposal for Extension of Maternity Leave to the RCSC in January, this year.
The National Assembly during the fourth session of the second parliament directed its women, children, and youth committee to review the existing regulations on maternity leave and its extension.
NA’s resolution had asked the committee to consult with stakeholders such as health ministry, National Commission for Women and Children, and RCSC.
“While considering maternity leave for working mothers, it is also necessary to consider the benefits of those mothers working in farms and private sector,” the resolution reads.
Royal Civil Service Commission is still waiting for an official letter to implement the proposal.
