70-day maternity leave proposal gets rejected, reigniting debate on balancing work and family

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Rejection of a proposal to extend private-sector maternity leave from 60 to 70 days by the government has reignited debate over how Bahrain should balance family welfare with workplace realities.

The proposal, tabled by MPs and inspired by neighbouring countries’ reforms, was turned down on grounds that it could disrupt parity between the public and private sectors and burden smaller firms with added costs. Officials argued that the existing 60-day paid leave, set after medical and economic studies, already strikes a fair balance between a mother’s health needs and a company’s operational requirements.

Equal footing

In its report to Parliament, the government said maintaining consistency across both sectors was crucial to avoid creating uneven advantages. It warned that any increase without business support measures might discourage private companies from hiring women, undercutting long-term goals to raise female participation in the labour market.

Current law provides 60 days of paid leave and 15 additional days of unpaid leave, with job protection and nursing breaks included.

Regional balance

The proposed 70-day leave was modelled partly on Gulf peers such as Saudi Arabia, where extended provisions exist for mothers in specific sectors. Those in support of the 70-day leave plan point out that Bahrain could explore hybrid models that combine flexibility for employers with enhanced care time for mothers and newborns.