Women on maternity leave in the civil service will now be paid their full basic salary for a period of 14 weeks.
Previously, the cap on women’s maternity leave was N$13 000 per month.
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) recently announced a significant update to the Public Service Staff Rules, extending the duration of maternity leave from 12 to 14 weeks, and according full pay to women on maternity leave.
OPM deputy executive director Tuyakula Haipinge said these changes, effective from 1 November, apply to all employees of government offices, ministries and agencies (OMA).
“All statutory deductions, including pension, taxation and Social Security Commission (SSC) contributions will be paid uninterrupted by the employer,” he said.
Haipinge also outlined new procedures for handling salary top-ups during maternity leave.
According to the guidelines, when an employee submits a maternity leave claim, the human resource (HR) office must place a copy of the claim in the claimant’s personnel file.
“During the period that the female staff member is on unpaid maternity leave, the employer shall pay the difference between the basic salary of the female staff member and the maternity leave benefit from the SSC,” he said.
In his statement, Haipinge added that the SSC will then record the claim and send an acknowledgement letter to the HR office of the employing OMA.
Upon receipt of this acknowledgement, the HR office is required to prepare advice for the salary office to ensure the top-up of the employee’s basic salary, following the adopted procedure, he said.
The payroll administrator in the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises will provide proof of payment to the SSC, who will use this to reconcile the records.
Women’s Action for Development executive director Salatiel Shinedima says increasing the maternity leave from 12 to 14 weeks is a step in the right direction to ensure that women are not discriminated against.
“The two week increment will allow for mothers to nurture and bond with their babies.”
However, Shinedima points out that the failure to make the change a national law in all sectors will result in women not aspiring to become mothers or seek senior positions in private companies.
Trade Union Congress of Namibia president Mahongora Kavihuha believes more time for mothers to breastfeed their infants will decrease the high level of malnutrition in the country.
Kavihuha, however, calls for the international labour bill to increase maternity leave to six months to ensure mother and child bonding is sufficient.
“This will benefit everyone. When infants are breastfed, there will be low malnutrition cases in Namibia and less infant mortality,” he says.
He believes employees have nothing to lose, in terms of delivery and finance.
He says it’s their social responsibility to ensure that women have adequate time to breastfeed their babies.
He further calls for designated areas to enable mothers to breastfeed their babies at work.
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