KUALA LUMPUR: The private sector has been urged to take up the prime minister’s call to match the 90-day maternity leave currently available to civil servants.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said the private sector should grant 90 days of maternity leave to their employees and not 60.
“It has been announced by Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) yesterday, so whether they (private sector) agree or disagree, it has to go on.
“Women should know that this is part of our rights as women employees in the country,” said Rohani after launching the inaugural Women Fest Malaysia (WFM) at Matrade Exhibition Convention Centre here today.
Najib, when tabling the 2018 Budget yesterday, proposed that the private sector increase the mandatory maternity leave from the current 60 days to 90 days, as per the practice of public sector organisations.
Rohani said employers should heed Najib’s call as a way to treat all employees well and to ensure better productivity in the workplace.
“The more the welfare of women is taken care of, the more they will be able to give back to the company. Women work really hard and I believe when we are treated well, we will give back more than what we received,” she said.
She said the productivity of young mothers who return to the workforce after their maternity leave might be affected if they did not receive enough rest.
“This is a welcome move by the government and this will not only be practised in Malaysia. Other countries are already implementing the same thing (90-day maternity leave),” she said.
Earlier, during the launch of the WFM, Rohani said more events should be held to encourage women’s participation in entrepreneurship.
She said this would be in line with the “Year to Empower Women” in 2018,which was announced by the prime minister during the tabling of the 2018 Budget.
“Various programmes should be held to develop and empower women entrepreneurs, especially housewives, single mothers and women who belong in the B40 category.
Besides showcasing dozens of local businesses in the beauty and lifestyle industries, WFM also promoted “Pink October” to raised awareness on breast cancer.
The ministry, through the National Population and Family Development Board, opened a “Mobile Breast Cancer Check Up” booth to conduct breast cancer check-ups on visitors.
“Educating oneself on breast cancer is the key and we should go beyond wearing a pink ribbon to support the cause. Early checkups and self-checking should be done to detect breast cancer early,” she said.