Parliament has finalized the draft bill for the extension of maternity leave and the introduction of paternity leave, marking a significant milestone in the Labour (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Initiated by the Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, this bill seeks to amend section 54 of the Labour Act to provide more comprehensive leave entitlements for both male and female workers.
The proposed amendments stipulate that male workers will be entitled to a period of paternity leave ranging from a minimum of two weeks to a maximum of four weeks.
This leave is in addition to any annual leave the worker is entitled to, provided they can produce a medical certificate from a medical practitioner or midwife indicating the expected date of their spouse’s confinement.
Furthermore, the bill allows for the extension of paternity leave by at least two weeks in cases where the spouse undergoes a caesarean section, experiences a stillbirth, or delivers multiple babies. Additionally, male workers who adopt a child younger than three months are also eligible for paternity leave.
The bill also proposes significant changes to maternity leave provisions. Clause 2 of the bill amends section 57 of the Labour Act, increasing maternity leave from twelve weeks to a range of seventeen to twenty-six weeks.
It also includes provisions for women who adopt a child younger than three months, granting them the same maternity leave benefits.
Moreover, the bill allows for an additional two weeks of maternity leave in situations involving abnormal confinement, caesarean sections, stillbirths, or the birth of multiple babies.
Clause 3 of the bill introduces a new section after section 57, which provides for flexible working conditions for pregnant or lactating female workers.
These workers can apply in writing to their employers for flexible working conditions, stating their reasons. Employers are required to respond in writing within fourteen days, indicating whether the application is granted or refused.
With the draft bill now finalized, it will proceed to be gazetted and subsequently read for the first time on the floor of the House. It will then be referred to the relevant committee for further consideration.
Francis-Xavier Sosu, who is also the deputy Ranking member of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, first introduced this bill in October 2023. He conducted a stakeholders’ engagement on March 4, 2024, to consider the bill’s objectives.
According to Mr. Sosu, “the Bill forms part of efforts to achieve gender parity, and realize a free, fair, inclusive, progressive, and just society for all.”
This initiative adds to Mr. Sosu’s impressive track record, having initiated 17 Private Member’s Bills. These include the death penalty bills, anti-witchcraft accusations bill, community sentencing bill, and a bill to remove taxes on sanitary pads, among others. Three of these bills have been passed by Parliament, with one receiving Presidential assent.
The Labour (Amendment) Bill, 2023, represents a significant step towards improving the working conditions and rights of both male and female workers in Ghana, reflecting Parliament’s commitment to fostering a more equitable and supportive work environment.