AR calls for longer maternity leave

Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda wants the maternity leave period to be increased by a month.

Speaking to Desert Radio yesterday, Amupanda said amending the maternity leave policy will allow women to better recuperate after giving birth.

“[That is] if we believe that children are gifts from God and women should not be punished for giving birth,” he said.

Amupanda further said pressure from the public is the only way to push for the maternity bill to be tabled.

“If we all believe that this is the right thing to do, we need to apply our pressure, we need to give our voice and of course, we need to vote correctly so that these changes come.”

Amupanda said the current policy sees women on maternity leave receiving a maximum of N$13 000 per month.

“The new benefit involves 100% of women’s basic wage, with a maximum of N$15 000 per month and the amended maternity leave benefits are payable over a maximum of 12 weeks,” he added.

Social justice activist Lucy Edwards-Jauch said women should be given adequate time to recuperate after birth and to encourage breastfeeding.

“Women in other countries are given more bonding time with their babies after childbirth,” she added.

Edwards-Jauch noted that amending the maternity leave policy should take into account paid maternity leave that is capped for women who earned a certain amount.

“Women who feel punished when they take their maternity leave would rather take a year off and not be punished financially,” she said.