Koeiman wants pregnancy law approved ASAP

October 26, 2010 7:24 AM

Minister Hensley Koeiman (Social Development and Welfare, MAN) intends to get the so-called pregnancy law approved as quick as possible.

The amendment, which amongst others departs from the expansion of the pregnancy leave from 12 to 14 weeks, had already been adopted in December last year. However, the law has still not been published and is therefore not effective yet.

According to Koeiman, it was Parliament member and fellow party member Eunice Eisden who put this case back on the agenda. She urged the government to provide clarity as to why this law has not been published yet and what the status of implementation is on this.
In a reaction, the Minister states this law has priority. “I am currently trying to find out why this has not been introduced yet. I expect to provide more clarity on this matter within short. My objective is and remains to proclaim the law as quick as possible so that it becomes effective.”
The expansion of the pregnancy leave was an initiative from the MAN-party in the Parliament. With this, the blue party amongst others wants to arrange that the pregnancy leave be expanded from 12 to 14 weeks. The amendment must also prevent females from losing their days of leave upon premature delivery. Furthermore, a ban will be introduced with regard to forcing heavily pregnant females to perform night shifts or stand-up work without an obligated one-hour break. The amendment was adopted at the end of last year by common consent.

(Source: National Newspaper Amigoe)

21 October 2010