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New law paves way for longer maternity leave
According to a new law passed on Tuesday, a mother giving birth is eligible for three months of maternity leave, which can be extended for another three months under certain medical conditions as prescribed by the doctor.
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A worker of the Merak integrated health post (posyandu) in South Tangerang, Banten weighs a baby on May 17, 2024. (Antara/Sulthony Hasanuddin )
A recently passed law governing the rights of women and children during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life paves the way for longer maternity leave, although lawmakers assert that the longer break only applies in certain conditions.
The law, passed unanimously by the House of Representatives in a plenary session on Tuesday, stipulates that a female worker is eligible for three months of maternity leave at the shortest.
The leave can be prolonged for another three months in certain medical conditions, as proven by a statement from a doctor. The law also requires employers to grant the worker the mentioned leave.
“This is in line with the Jobs Law,” said Golkar Party lawmaker Ace Hasan Syadzily, who is also deputy chair of House Commission VIII overseeing women’s empowerment and child protection, on Wednesday, as quoted by kompas.com.
A mother taking maternity leave must receive a full paycheck for the first three months of the break. Should her leave be extended, she is entitled to 100 percent of her wage in the fourth month and three-quarters of her wage for the following two months.
The legislation also mandates legal protection for mothers taking maternity leave for giving birth or recovering from a miscarriage, barring them from being fired from their jobs during the leave. It orders central or regional authorities to provide legal assistance for mothers barred from receiving their rights for taking such leave.
Fathers are also eligible for a two-day paternity leave to accompany their wives during childbirth, which can be extended for three more days, according to the law.
The law also lists the obligation for parents, specifically mentioning “mother and father”, for their children, as well as the authorities of the central government and regional administrations in supporting the mother and children’s welfare.
Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati (left) hands over a document of the government's response to the deliberation of the mother and child welfare bill to House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani (right) during a House plenary session at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta on June 4, 2024. (Antara/Aditya Pradana Putra )
The bill was first discussed by lawmakers and the government in 2022, but was put on the back burner until recently.
Ace of Golkar said the law focused on mothers during pregnancy and giving birth, as well as children during the first 1,000 days of their lives.
“We know that the mortality rates of pregnant mothers and newborns are high,” he said, “so this is how the state is paying attention to the most crucial phase of a child’s development.” (kuk)
