It’s a sensitive subject that must be discussed. The Committee for Civil Servants Unions (CCSU) presented Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin with their proposal to expand maternity leave for mothers from 16 to 18 weeks and give fathers two weeks instead of the current two days (see related story). The move was also urged earlier by Member of Parliament (MP) Tamara Leonard.
It’s important to keep in mind that such a change would have to be not only for the public but also the private sector based on the equality principle. An exclusive arrangement for just government employees could easily lead to court cases demanding the same treatment.
Apart from emotional aspects, the practical implications of any major decision should always be evaluated in an objective way beforehand. In this case the most obvious one is personnel being away longer from the workplace.
So, if a female employee were to get pregnant twice in – let’s not exaggerate and say two but – three years, she would get a combined 36 weeks off from the total of (3x52) 156 during that period, leaving her to work 120 weeks, not counting holidays and sick days. In addition, she would still be entitled to about – the average three weeks per year – nine weeks of regular vacation, for total of 111 effective work weeks; less than three quarters (75 per cent).
All that doesn’t necessarily mean it shouldn’t be done, but the possible effects on productivity ought to be considered as well. This is even more the case where it regards fathers.
While especially large organisations have learned to live with the reality that some of their female staff may become unavailable and need to be replaced for an extended period due to pregnancy from time to time, they are usually not geared towards males being away for the same reason. One could say it’s only two weeks, but together with vacation it becomes five out if 52, almost 10 per cent.
Although nobody is against babies getting the attention they require from both parents, this matter cannot be separated from a tourism economy still recovering after the massive blow it was dealt by Hurricane Irma in September 2017. A prolonged absence of these women but also men can certainly be legislated, but is not without consequences.
