The Ghanaian government’s initiative to introduce paternity leave by the end of 2024 has sparked varied reactions, with doubts emerging over the bill’s passage within the stipulated timeframe.
Finance Minister Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, in his Mid-Year Budget presentation to Parliament, underscored the potential benefits of the proposed policy. The paternity leave, aimed at supporting male workers in assisting their spouses during childbirth or adoption, is a significant step towards gender equality in the workplace.
According to Dr Adam, the draft Labour Bill 2024, developed in collaboration with social partners, includes provisions for five days of paternity leave for male employees within three months of childbirth or adoption, alongside an increase in maternity leave from 14 to 16 weeks.
However, labour consultant Austin Gamey expressed scepticism about the bill’s passage prospects before the year’s end.
“Parliament is set to close soon and will resume in November amidst ongoing campaigns. Labour legislation isn’t swiftly enacted; it requires considerable time,” Gamey noted. “While including paternity leave in law is beneficial, its passage now seems improbable.”
Gamey highlighted existing provisions for paternity leave in some collective agreements and conditions of service but underscored the significant importance of legal enactment and its implications, a factor that cannot be overlooked in this matter.
The bill, sponsored by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is part of a larger effort to enhance labour administration and regulate workplace dynamics. It reflects the ongoing efforts to modernize Ghana’s employment laws and adapt them to the changing needs of the workforce.
As stakeholders eagerly monitor developments, the fate of the bill remains uncertain. The interplay of legislative timelines and electoral priorities adds a layer of complexity to the bill’s passage, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
