The Minister of Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has announced that the government, in collaboration with its social partners, has developed a draft Labour Bill, 2024 to strengthen labor administration and regulation of the workplace.
This announcement was made during the mid-year budget review presented to Parliament on July 23, 2024.
Key reforms proposed in the draft bill include the extension of maternity leave and the introduction of paternity leave, among other measures aimed at improving employment coordination and strengthening labor migration governance.
The Labour Law is expected to be promulgated before the end of the year.
In June 2024, Ghana’s Parliament finalized the draft Labour (Amendment) Bill, 2023, initiated by Madina MP, Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu. The bill aims to amend section 54 of the Labour Act to provide paternity leave for male workers.
“A male worker is entitled to a period of paternity leave for a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of four weeks in addition to a period of annual leave,” the bill states.
This entitlement is contingent upon the man producing a medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner or midwife indicating the expected date of the spouse’s confinement. The clause also ensures that the male worker is entitled to full benefits and remuneration during the leave period.
The bill allows for the extension of paternity leave by at least two weeks in cases where the spouse undergoes a caesarean section, experiences a stillbirth, or gives birth to multiple babies. Additionally, male workers who adopt a child under three months old are entitled to paternity leave.
Clause 2 of the bill seeks to amend section 57 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), increasing maternity leave from twelve to between seventeen and twenty-six weeks. It also extends maternity leave to women who adopt a child under three months old. The clause allows for an additional two weeks of leave in cases of abnormal confinement, caesarean sections, or the birth of multiple babies.
Clause 3 of the bill introduces provisions for flexible working conditions for pregnant or lactating female workers. Employers are required to respond to written applications for flexible working conditions within 14 days.
The bill, initiated by Madina MP Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu in October 2023, is part of efforts to achieve gender parity and create a fair, inclusive, and progressive society.
“The bill forms part of efforts to achieve gender parity, and realize a free, fair, inclusive, progressive, and just society for all,” said Sosu.
The Madina MP, who also serves as the deputy Ranking member of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, has initiated seventeen Private Member’s Bills, including the death penalty bill, anti-witchcraft accusations bill, community sentencing bill, and a bill to remove taxes on sanitary pads.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh