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n what is seen as a pro-family policy, the Aceh administration recently issued a regulation that grants career women six months paid maternity leave to give them more time with their newborns.

The gubernatorial regulation issued on Aug. 12 also grants 20 days pregnancy leave for civil servants, non-permanent workers and others working for the Aceh administration.

Maternity leave in Aceh will therefore be twice as long as the three months commonly given in the rest of the country.

“The fulfillment of the rights of children and women in Aceh is an initial benchmark for the creation of a golden generation who will become Aceh’s future leaders,” Aceh Governor Zaini Abdullah said.

The regulation also stipulates that husbands are entitled to paid paternity leave of seven days
before becoming a father and seven days after.

The gubernatorial regulation also stipulates that companies operating in Aceh are required to provide maternity and paternity leave in accordance with internal regulations or employment contracts.

Zaini said the six months maternity leave was a woman’s right that must be upheld, especially in a bid to ensure exclusive breast-feeding in order to help free Aceh from stunting and malnutrition.

The maternity leave regulation, said Zaini, was a form of recognition of human values because women should get preferential treatment while they exclusively breast-fed.

In support of the objectives of the regulation, public facilities must also provide nursing rooms for women, such as in healthcare facilities, hotels and restaurants, recreation areas, land transportation terminals and shopping centers.

Zaini also asked municipal and regental administrations in Aceh to develop, supervise and evaluate
the implementation and achievement of the exclusive breast-feeding program in healthcare and public facilities, workplaces and community centers.

Punishment for violating the regulation includes a verbal warning, a written warning and revocation of business license for business entities that do not give six months paid maternity leave to female workers.

Linda Yenni Yanti was the first civil servant to benefit from the regulation and said she was glad she would have the opportunity to exclusively breast-feed her baby for six months.

The regulation received widespread support, especially from women. Six months maternity leave will give new mothers time to recover their health, said housewife Cut Meutia of Lampeunurut, Aceh.