Ugandan MPs have made a significant move towards promoting gender equality in the workplace by passing a bill that increases paternity leave from four to seven days.
The decision aims to enable male employees to actively support their spouses during the early stages of parenthood. Flavia Kabahenda, the chairperson of parliament’s gender committee, emphasized the importance of allowing male employees more time to assist their partners.
This change in paternity leave policy was inspired by Uganda’s neighboring country, Kenya, which grants male employees two weeks of paternity leave. By adopting a similar approach, Ugandan lawmakers hope to encourage a more balanced division of responsibilities within households.
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However, while the bill expanded paternity leave, it faced opposition when it came to extending leave for female employees who give birth to multiple children. A proposal to increase their current 60 days of leave to 90 days was rejected by the parliament.
Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka argued that such an extension would be burdensome for employers, ultimately leading to the rejection of the proposal.
The passage of the bill represents a positive step towards recognizing the importance of fathers’ involvement in childcare and promoting gender equity in Uganda.
By providing more time for male employees to be present during the early stages of their children’s lives, this new legislation aims to foster stronger family bonds and support the overall well-being of both parents and children.
