Lawmakers to debate plan to extend maternity leave

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Parliament will on Tuesday debate a proposal to extend maternity leave, with the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee recommending approval.

The motion, tabled by MP Dr Ali Al Nuaimi, would keep the current two-month paid leave but allow mothers to add further periods under defined conditions. It aims to strengthen family stability, maintain workplace standards, and boost employee loyalty through fair, balanced provisions.

The Civil Service Bureau said maternity policy must balance family needs with work demands but warned that longer leave could strain productivity and raise costs, particularly in critical sectors such as education, health, and utilities. Women make up 57.4% of Bahrain’s civil service, meaning extended absence could affect daily operations and efforts to reach fiscal balance.

Under current law, female employees are entitled to 60 days of paid maternity leave, including allowances, starting from the date on a certified medical report, with an option to begin up to 15 days before the expected delivery. On return, mothers receive two paid nursing hours per day until the child turns two, and can take unpaid childcare leave for up to two years at a time—up to three times during their career—to care for a child under six.

The Bahrain Women Union supported a “fair and practical” extension that allows mothers to meet family responsibilities while sustaining work efficiency.

After reviewing all views, the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee unanimously advised Parliament to approve the proposal, saying it strikes a fair balance between supporting working mothers and maintaining institutional productivity.