Proposal for six-month maternity leave welcomed

Kathmandu, Sept 30: The government has moved forward with a proposal to extend the current 98-day maternity leave to six months. Health sector experts have termed this proposed provision essential and significant, noting that it would enable mothers to get adequate rest after childbirth, care for their newborns, and practice exclusive breastfeeding for six months.

The proposal to extend maternity leave to six months involves amending the ‘Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act, 2075.’ The draft of the ‘Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights (First Amendment) Bill, 2083’ proposes providing six months of paid maternity leave covering the periods before and after childbirth to women employed in the government, non-governmental, and private sectors.

Additionally, a proposal has been made to grant male employees 42 days of paid paternity leave (maternity care leave) upon the birth of their child. A proposal seeking consideration on the bill was approved by the House of Representatives on Monday.

Presenting the proposal, Minister for Health and Food Safety, Nisha Mehta, emphasized that investment in motherhood should be viewed as an investment in the future of the state.

Meanwhile, Chief of the Maternal and Newborn Health Section under the Family Welfare Division, Dr. Gauri Pradhan Shrestha, stated that six months of maternity leave is essential for the health of both the mother and the newborn. Noting the practice in developed nations of granting extended leave for childcare, she cited examples of countries where leave is provided for up to two years.

According to her, since breast milk is vital for newborns, they should be fed exclusively on breast milk for at least six months. Statistics also indicate a decline in breastfeeding rates in the country. According to the Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2024–25), only seven out of ten infants under six months of age receive exclusive breastfeeding.

Similarly, fewer than four out of ten infants begin breastfeeding within one hour of birth. Likewise, Director of Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Dr. Shree Prasad Adhikari, also described the provision for six months of maternity leave as positive and welcome. He noted that such a measure would have a beneficial impact on the health of both mothers and newborns. –––