Paternity proposal prompts raised eyebrows in the NA

A CALL for the introduction of paternity leave in the new Labour Bill was made by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Loide Kasingo, in the National Assembly yesterday.

This sparked a surge of mumbling from male parliamentarians – but it was unclear whether this was because they were opposed to, or in agreement, with the suggestion. Debating the Bill, which is set to replace the current Act, Kasingo said a provision of this nature was needed to lend support to laws that stressed that fathers take equal responsibility for their children and to proposed legislation such as the Child Status Bill, which guarantees children access to both their parents.She sketched a scenario in which a mother could die at childbirth leaving other relatives to take care of the child’s immediate needs.Instead, she said, if fathers were granted paternity leave, they could fulfil this role.Kasingo said that paternity leave needn’t last for the entire eight weeks mothers are granted under the law.She did not suggest a time period for the proposed paternity leave.Kasingo also raised concerns about domestic workers and farmworkers, saying they ought to be paid better so that they could also own a home.”Are you aware that it is raining now and there is someone on your farm standing out there looking after your cattle?” she asked MPs.She said people had to treat those they employed better, especially as they enabled many to be employed themselves.”We didn’t walk here from our offices.We are driven here,” she reminded her fellow MPs, referring to their personal drivers.Kasingo suggested that employers of informal workers, especially in urban areas, contribute to their accommodation expenses.”We have affordable places in Katutura,” she said.Trade and Industry Minister Jesaya Nyamu wanted to know whether Kasingo was suggesting that he would be expected to share his accommodation with his domestic employees on their retirement.”Is she saying that if I employ a domestic worker, after retirement I must give her a part of my house?” he asked MPs.Kasingo retorted that if domestic employees were treated well during the time of their employ, they would not expect more from their employers when they retired.”It’s the only way we are going to obtain industrial peace.Let’s not try to own these people.”The debate was postponed until tomorrow.Debating the Bill, which is set to replace the current Act, Kasingo said a provision of this nature was needed to lend support to laws that stressed that fathers take equal responsibility for their children and to proposed legislation such as the Child Status Bill, which guarantees children access to both their parents.She sketched a scenario in which a mother could die at childbirth leaving other relatives to take care of the child’s immediate needs.Instead, she said, if fathers were granted paternity leave, they could fulfil this role.Kasingo said that paternity leave needn’t last for the entire eight weeks mothers are granted under the law.She did not suggest a time period for the proposed paternity leave.Kasingo also raised concerns about domestic workers and farmworkers, saying they ought to be paid better so that they could also own a home.”Are you aware that it is raining now and there is someone on your farm standing out there looking after your cattle?” she asked MPs.She said people had to treat those they employed better, especially as they enabled many to be employed themselves.”We didn’t walk here from our offices.We are driven here,” she reminded her fellow MPs, referring to their personal drivers.Kasingo suggested that employers of informal workers, especially in urban areas, contribute to their accommodation expenses.”We have affordable places in Katutura,” she said.Trade and Industry Minister Jesaya Nyamu wanted to know whether Kasingo was suggesting that he would be expected to share his accommodation with his domestic employees on their retirement.”Is she saying that if I employ a domestic worker, after retirement I must give her a part of my house?” he asked MPs.Kasingo retorted that if domestic employees were treated well during the time of their employ, they would not expect more from their employers when they retired.”It’s the only way we are going to obtain industrial peace.Let’s not try to own these people.”The debate was postponed until tomorrow.