New policy approved to grant female employees two daily nursing breaks until their children reach two years of age
The Parliament has unanimously passed an amendment to the Employment Act, granting female employees two paid 30-minute nursing breaks daily until their child reaches two years of age. The government-sponsored bill, which received 62 votes in favor, extends this entitlement from the previous one-year limit. In addition to the nursing breaks, the amendment introduces significant changes regarding employment termination notice periods and overtime pay regulations.
Civil service employees of the Ministry of Transport. | Mihaaru | mihaaru
The People's Majlis has passed an amendment to the Employment Act requiring employers to grant female employees two daily breaks until their children reach the age of two.
During Sunday's People's Majlis sitting, the government-sponsored bill, introduced by Madaveli MP Mohamed Shameez, was passed unanimously with 62 votes in favor.
The bill, introduced by MP Shameez, proposes that female employees be granted two 30-minute breaks per day for a duration of two years, starting from the date they return to work following maternity leave. According to the bill, these intervals are to be provided without any salary deductions, specifically to allow mothers time to attend to their child's needs.
During the voting process, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) proposed an amendment to the bill. Specifically, MDP Member for Thoddoo constituency, Hussain Sameer, moved to extend the proposed 30-minute break for employees to 45 minutes. However, the Parliament, where the People's National Congress (PNC) holds the majority, voted against the amendment.
Seven members voted in favor of the proposed amendment, while 49 members voted against it.
Under current legislation, employers are required to provide staff with two 30-minute nursing breaks per day, without any salary deductions, until the child reaches one year of age. According to the bill passed on Sunday, employees will now be entitled to these breaks until the child turns two years old.
The bill also proposes amendments to the regulations governing employee termination notices and overtime pay. According to the bill, employers must provide a two-week notice period when terminating an employee who is on a fixed-term contract not exceeding one year.
