On the occasion of the approaching International Women’s Day 2019, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has announced that starting 7th March, all mothers will be granted six months paid maternity leave and a month-long paternity leave for fathers.
During his speech at the function held to mark this year’s women’s day held in Maafushi island of Kaafu atoll, President Solih noted that ensuring women empowerment and facilitating women to reach their true potential is a responsibility of every single person.
Highlighting that the empowerment of the whole community will be the result of empowering women, the President stated that increasing women’s participation in the sustainable progress of the country is an important policy of the current government.
In an effort to include the previously demoted portions of the society in the country’s economic activity, the current administration is also to allocate 20 percent of loans especially for women, youth and people with disabilities, under the government’s SME loan scheme, said the President.
At the special function held in Maafushi on Thursday, Preisdent Solih also presented awards to winners of this year’s Rehendhi Awards.
Prior to the function, President Solih also unveiled the monument in the island made to mark the day.
