The Opposition Leader, Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, during the National Assembly yesterday, said some ministries are already facing difficulties because of six-month maternity leave.
The six-month maternity leave came into effect from March, this year. It used to be three months, before.
Dr. Pema Gyamtsho said education and health ministries are feeling the impact.
“We heard there are no replacements when they go for maternity leave.”
He said there already is shortage of science teachers in schools. “When they go for six month maternity leave, there is no one who can substitute and it has affected science subjects.”
He said there are contract teachers but they are inexperienced.
Works and human settlement minister, Dorji Choden said it is not possible to replace every woman going on maternity leave.
“Today, there are women going for long-term training and extra ordinary leave but we don’t hear people complaining about it,” said Lyonpo.
The Opposition Leader also said the six-month maternity leave benefits only about three percent of women in the civil service.
He said there are 31,000 women working outside civil service.
National Assembly’s Women, Children, and Youth Committee recommended labour ministry work with private companies to increase and provide supplements for the working mothers.
The committee is also to come up with a report to be presented in the National Assembly, next session.
