Amendments to Consider Full Maternity Pay

By:Nghiinomenwa-vali Erastus

Minister of Labour, Utoni Nujoma has said proposals to extend maternity leave from 12 weeks to 20 weeks with full salaries can only be considered when the Labour Act is amended.
Nujoma confirmed that the Labour Act is currently undergoing reviews and will soon be amended.
He said interested parties including politicians in parliament should then consider this proposal at this stage.
Nujoma made these remarks in the National Assembly last week when he was responding to a motion by Popular Democratic Movement’s Winnie Moongo.
On September 19, 2023, parliamentarian Winnie Moongo proposed a motion to discuss increasing the amount payable for maternity leave.
This includes the proposal to pay women their full salaries, extend maternity leave up to five months with full pay, and incorporate paternity leave into the legislative framework.
Currently capped at N$15,000.00, the benefit for maternity leave saw an increase from N$13,000.00 effective March 25, 2022.