Bahrain: MPs Push To Extend Paid Maternity Leave To 70 Days
Four women MPs, Hanan Fardan, Jaleela Alawi, Basma Mubarak and Maryam Al Saiegh, have brought forward a proposal to extend paid maternity leave in the private sector from sixty to seventy days. The matter is scheduled for a vote in Parliament on Tuesday.
Their proposal seeks to amend Article 32 of the Labour Law, which currently allows sixty days of paid leave, to be taken before and after childbirth, with a medical certificate as proof. A further fifteen days of unpaid leave may also be taken. The new draft would increase the paid period by ten days while keeping the unpaid portion unchanged.
'We are guided by the Constitution,' said Fardan. 'It requires the state to support women as they balance family duties and their role in the workforce. This proposal walks in that direction.' She noted that Egypt and Saudi Arabia already provide longer maternity leave, with Egyptian law granting ninety days and Saudi labour rules allowing women to take ten weeks on full pay.
The Services Committee, which examined the text, has recommended its approval. In its report, the committee said the amendment is grounded in sound legal reasoning and consistent with the country's stated aim of supporting working families.
The Ministry of Labour, however, raised concerns. It argued that while the extension may appear helpful, it risks discouraging employers from hiring women. 'The sixty-day leave currently in place followed thorough study,' the ministry said. 'Lengthening it, while well-meaning, may add strain to small and medium-sized firms who must cover that absence.' It also warned that the amendment would widen the gap in benefits between public and private sector workers and could slow down efforts to improve women's employment rates.
The Ministry of Health confirmed that maternity certificates are issued based on the medical condition of the expectant mother and that the sixty-day allowance already matches that of the public sector.
The Supreme Council for Women called for caution, warning that the proposed change might make employers more hesitant to hire women. 'Any revision of this kind needs to be weighed against its wider effects,' the Council said, pointing to the importance of preserving balance between workers' rights and business continuity.
The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged lawmakers to leave the law as it stands. In its submission, it said the current legal arrangement already offers fair leave while avoiding strain on businesses. It warned that even small changes could create unintended pressure on firms' resources and weaken their ability to grow.
The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions backed the proposal, saying it aligned with recent moves in other countries to give workers more time to care for their families. The Bahrain Women's Union also expressed support. Its president, Ahlam Rajab, said the change was long overdue. 'There are women who need those extra ten days,' she said. 'Not as a gift but as something earned, something necessary for their own recovery and the care of their newborns.'
Parliament is expected to decide on the matter on Tuesday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Insider
3 hours ago
- Gulf Insider
Trump Travel Ban, Restrictions Go Into Effect On 19 Nations
A travel ban signed by President Donald Trump has gone into effect, barring nationals from 12 countries from entering the United States and restricting entry by nationals from seven others. The ban, instituted through a presidential proclamation rather than an executive order, went into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on June 9. As a proclamation, it isn't legally binding but signals a shift in federal policy.A total of 12 countries face complete bans under the proclamation, including Afghanistan, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Burma (also known as Myanmar), the Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. People from these nations are barred from entering the United States for immigration or other reasons. The seven countries that the president partially restricted travel from are Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Trump suspended the entry of individuals from those seven countries 'as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants,' on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, according to the directive. Those who are already in the country from these nations with a valid visa will be permitted to remain. Trump tied the proclamation to national security and public safety. In a video on social media, Trump linked the new ban to the June 1 terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, saying it underscored the dangers posed by some visitors who overstay visas. The suspect in that attack, Mohammed Sabry Soliman, was an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa, according to the Department of Homeland Security. 'It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks and other national security or public-safety threats,' Trump's order reads. 'Screening and vetting protocols and procedures associated with visa adjudications and other immigration processes play a critical role in implementing that policy.' He tied the Afghanistan ban to the Taliban's current control of the nation, the Iran ban to the Islamic state's status as a 'state sponsor of terrorism' and noncooperation with the United States, and Somalia's to the nation's internal terrorism issues. The proclamation also mentions the significant influx of illegal immigrants from Haiti. 'This influx harms American communities by creating acute risks of increased overstay rates, establishment of criminal networks, and other national security threats,' the proclamation reads. Others were tied to noncooperation by foreign governments, including not accepting deported foreign nationals. For example, according to the White House, Chad had visa overstay rates of 37 percent, 49 percent, and 55 percent, depending on the type of visa, in 2022 and 2023. 'The high visa overstay rate for 2022 and 2023 is unacceptable and indicates a blatant disregard for United States immigration laws,' the directive said. The travel ban results from a Jan. 20 executive order that Trump issued requiring the departments of State and Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to compile a report on 'hostile attitudes' toward the United States and whether entry from certain countries represented a national security risk. The order met with criticism from some international and immigrant groups, including the International Refugee Assistance Project. In a statement, the group said that the ban 'weaponizes and distorts immigration laws to target people that the president dislikes and disagrees with' and would create 'chaos.' The African Union Commission also expressed concerns about the 'potential negative impact' of the move. 'The African Union Commission respectfully calls upon the U.S. administration to consider adopting a more consultative approach and to engage in constructive dialogue with the countries concerned,' the commission said in a statement. Also read: Trump Orders Additional 2,000 National Guardsmen To LA As Riots Continue
Daily Tribune
14 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
MPs call for urgent bridge between Muharraq and Arad to cut congestion
Five MPs have urged the government to act fast on building a bridge between Muharraq and Arad, warning that traffic in the area is worsening and cannot be left unresolved. The proposal, lodged under Article 68(a) of the Constitution and Article 128 of Parliament's internal rules, sets out plans for a marine crossing from Furdat Al Muharraq, at the junction with Shaikh Khalifa Avenue, across to Halat and Hidd by way of Road 47. 'The current congestion in the area leaves no room for delay,' the MPs wrote. 'This project is one of the key efforts that would improve links and ease the daily grind for drivers in a part of the country weighed down by heavy traffic.' The explanatory note warns that jams on the main roads have been made worse by the lack of a direct route across the water. The proposed bridge, they say, would reduce accidents by keeping vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians apart. They added that work on the project must take into account the need to protect marine life. The request was submitted by Khalid Saleh Buanaq, Zainab AbdulAmeer, Hesham Al Awadhi, Mohammed Al Ma'arafi and Mohammed Al Olaiwi, who asked for it to be added as urgent business on Parliament's upcoming agenda.
Daily Tribune
14 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
‘A mark of pride for Muslims everywhere'
MP Ahmed Al Salloom has praised the smooth running of this year's Hajj, calling it 'a mark of pride for Muslims everywhere'. Crowds were managed with care, and pilgrims approached the rituals calmly and without trouble. The scale of preparation, he said, was striking. The credit, he added, lay with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Al Salloom, Chairman of Parliament's financial committee, thanked Bahrain's leadership for helping its pilgrims. Royal guidance He thanked His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, saying their guidance and steady oversight helped ensure pilgrims from Bahrain received what they needed to carry out the rituals calmly and without trouble. He also praised King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their care for the pilgrims. The transport, shelters, and the helping hands, he said, showed just how much had been put in to ease the strain on those making the journey. He credited Bahrain's Hajj mission. Staff kept a close eye on local pilgrims and worked closely with other bodies. It showed a strong sense of duty and teamwork, he said. Al Salloom said the results spoke plainly. From Saudi planning to Bahraini support, the cooperation was clear. And behind it all, he added, was one shared aim, to serve the pilgrims and honour the faith.
