KUCHING: The presence and active role of a father during the first few days after a baby’s delivery is vital, and positively impacts the family.
In response to Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah’s advice to the private sector to implement a three-day paternity leave, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief Datuk Snowdan Lawan has voiced his support for the motion.
He lamented the lack of such a practice in our contemporary society.
“This proposal is very timely, and it is even worth considering fully-paid paternity leave to be stipulated by law,” said Snowdan to New Sarawak Tribune.
“As a universal practice, this type of leave should be privately funded whereby corporations are mandated to absorb the cost as part of the employee’s benefits,” he added.
Meanwhile, Snowdan acknowledged that smaller companies may struggle to implement this period of absence, but he encouraged larger corporations to take the lead.
“The long-term effects on productivity, family wellbeing and home welfare are far greater,” he stressed.
Touching on the benefits of initiating such a paternity leave policy, Snowdan said, “It would increase paternal involvement and challenge gender roles within the family. Thus, it can promote a more equal division of labour while combating ‘motherhood
penalty’ at the same time.”
He also pointedly mentioned that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conducted a review of parental leave policies in 185 countries
in 2014, and found that all countries except Papua New Guinea have laws in place mandating some form of paternity leave.
“Let’s move in tandem,” he urged strongly.
PRS Women chief Datuk Seri Doris Brodie also shared her thoughts in favour of the proposal, stating that paternity leave would create an environment that is more conducive to harmonious work.
“I personally think that three days of leave is alright, but it would be even better if it is even longer — a week at least,” she said in the interview.
“Whether it is your first child or your fifth, paternity leave is important for mothers and fathers. This is because it takes time to bond as a new family,” Doris emphasised.
She further added that granting a period of leave to fathers can allow them
to save the cost of hiring someone to care for the mother and child.
“Nowadays, it is expensive to hire a confinement assistant. I was told it can cost up to a few thousand ringgit to hire one for a month, and even more for a longer period.”
Doris also pointed out that fathers need a chance to adjust to having a new addition to the family just as much as mothers do.
