Food & Beverage distributor Happy Market Trading Company has begun implementing the recently established policy on granting employees six months paid maternity leave.

In an announcement on Monday, Happy Market stated that it will also a one-month paternity leave.

Granting female employees six months paid maternity leave is included in President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s first-100-day pledges.

President Solih implemented the policy for the occasion of International Women’s Day. He said that ensuring women's empowerment and allowing them to reach their true potential is a responsibility of every single person. Highlighting that this will also empower the whole community, the President said that increasing women’s participation in the development of the country is an important policy of the current government.

Several companies have since begun implementing the new maternity leave policy, including State Trading Organization (STO).