Lawmakers, Rights Activists Insist on Extension of Maternity Leave

House of Representatives (HoR) members and human rights activists today dwelt on a proposal of public importance registered in the parliament, insisting on effective implementation of Right to Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health.

During the discussion organised by the Forum of Women, Law and Development (FWLD), lawmaker Sita Thapaliya who proposed the document said the proposal aimed at creating an atmosphere for effective implementation of the Right to Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health guaranteed by Article 38 (2) of the Constitution.

She called for dismantling the general mindset that “Women are solely responsible for bearing and rearing the child.” It is noted that the proposal has called for extending the maternity leave from existing 98 days to at least six months.

If the proposal was implemented, mothers ranging from daily-wage earners to government employees will be benefitted. It is said that Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, Sobita Gautam, and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Dr Toshima Karki have their support to the proposal seconded by Saraswoti Lama.

According to Lama, it was possible to register the document following six months of efforts. Women makes up 51.2 percent of Nepal’s total population with 8.7 million women aged 15–59 and some 5 million aged 20–40 who fall within the reproductive age group.

At the programme, Dr Gauri Pradhan from the Ministry of Health and Food Safety, said if the maternity leave is extended to at least six months, a mother can manage convenient time to breastfeed her child during the leave period, and it will provide long-term health benefits to the child.

According to senior advocate Mira Dhungana, even the existing 98-day maternity leave provision has remained unimplemented in various areas, forcing women to move to the court. She asserted that the duration of maternity leave be extended to at least for six months for mental wellbeing and overall health of a mother as well. (RSS)