Keeping up with the wave of gender equality that is sweeping across the globe, for the first time in the history of Ghana, fathers would be entitled to paternity leave just as their female counterparts.
This is part of a memorandum attached to a bill entitled The Labour (Amendment) Act 2013, which aims at amending the Labour Act, 2003 (ACT 615), with the view to further provide for maternity leave and grant paternity leave.
The Chairmen of the Constitutional Review Implementation Committee (CRIC), Prof. E.V.O Dankwa, said the proposal was to extend the maternity leave for women from the current number of twelve weeks to sixteen weeks.
“A male worker, on production of a medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner or a midwife, is entitled to a paternity leave after the birth of his child for a period of five working days. Additionally, a male worker on paternity leave is entitled to be paid his full remuneration,” he revealed.
He disclosed that a memorandum to this effect had been forwarded to and signed by the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations.
Other recommendations made by the CRIC include the Draft Broadcasting Bill pending approval by Cabinet and eventual passage by Parliament and the Consumer Protection Policy and Bill.