Paternity leave will be implemented in Ghana in 2024 as a part of a number of labor changes.
On Tuesday, July 23, during his presentation to Parliament for the mid-year budget review, Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam made the news.
According to Dr. Adam, the government has been working with its social partners to establish a draft Labour Bill, 2024, which aims to regulate the workplace and boost labor administration.
The introduction of paternity leave, the expansion of maternity leave, and the enhancement of labor migration governance and employment coordination are some of the major reforms that have been suggested.
The draft Labour Bill, 2024, sponsored by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, allows male workers to apply for paternity leave within three months of their wife’s or surrogate’s childbirth or after adopting a child under one year old. Employees must provide proof of birth or adoption to qualify. Employers must grant at least five days of paternity leave, with no more than one leave allowed within a 24-month period.
The bill also enhances maternity leave, entitling female workers to at least 14 weeks of leave, plus any annual leave, upon presenting a medical certificate of their expected delivery date.
Maternity leave can be extended by at least two weeks for abnormal confinement or multiple births. Female workers are entitled to full pay and benefits during maternity leave and are protected from dismissal due to their absence.
The proposed legislation also provides additional leave for pregnancy-related illnesses certified by a doctor. In cases of stillbirth or loss of a baby during maternity leave, the worker can continue or start maternity leave, with potential additional leave as certified.
Nursing mothers are entitled to a one-hour break during work to nurse their babies, counted and compensated as working hours.
