Civil servants with children below ten years of age will be entitled to up to nine working days of Child Care Leave each year under a new initiative that comes into effect today. The initiative aims to support working parents and promote a family-friendly workplace.The Royal Civil Service Commission approved the initiative last month. It is part of the government’s efforts to encourage childbirth under the Third Child Plus Programme.
The new leave is in addition to existing entitlements, including pre-maternity leave, maternity leave, paternity leave and flexible breastfeeding arrangements.
Under the initiative, civil servants with one child below ten years of age will be entitled to five working days of leave each year. Those with two children below seven years of age will receive seven days.
Parents with three or more children below ten years of age will be entitled to nine working days of leave annually. The leave can be taken continuously or in parts, depending on caregiving needs.
The entitlement applies separately to each parent. If both parents are civil servants, each can avail of the leave independently.
However, any unused Child Care Leave will lapse at the end of the applicable year. It cannot be carried forward, accumulated, transferred or encashed.
The initiative is also intended to support the government’s efforts to address the country’s declining birth rate.
Pema Tshewang
