JEDDAH — An expert on women's labor rights has called on the Ministry of Labor to increase the duration of maternity leave granted to working women in the Kingdom. Executive Director of the Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid Center for Businesswomen at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Basmah Omair, said the ministry currently grants 10 weeks of maternity leave, which she claimed was among the shortest in the world. “Pregnant women can have up to a total of 10 weeks off with a maximum of four weeks before giving birth. They can ask for an unpaid holiday of 30 days without any day of her paid annual leave being deducted. The Kingdom's pregnancy and maternity leaves are considered among the shortest in the world,” said Omair. She also said the International Labor Organization states the pregnancy leave for working women is 12 weeks and recommends 14 weeks off after they give birth. “Scandinavian countries are considered the best in the world in maternity and pregnancy leaves as they give their female employees two years of paid leave. The ministry has exerted great efforts in dignifying women in the workplace but we know we still have quite a ways to go,” said Omair. She added a new study has been submitted to the Shoura Council to help Saudi women balance their professional and personal obligations. “The study recommends women who have not completed a year in their workplace should be granted a pregnancy leave of up to 12 weeks with 50 percent of their wages paid by the private sector employer and 14 weeks maternity leave with 50 percent of their wages paid by the government,” said Omair. She added women who have completed a year in their workplace are granted the same duration of leaves but with fully paid wages. “The study also recommends different measures for women who are pregnant with more than one child. They would have the same pregnancy leave but a maternity leave of 20 weeks,” said Omair. She also added the study recommends all women on maternity leave should be able to decide the status of their work for the succeeding six months. “Women should be able to decide whether they wish to have a full-time position, part-time position or work from home if the nature of the work permits it and her salary will be determined accordingly. The pregnancy leave, maternity leave or any extra leave women take should not affect her employment status at the company,” said Omair. She added women have a maximum of three maternity and pregnancy leaves to take in the private sector. “If a woman wishes to take more, she may have 12 weeks of pregnancy with a full salary from the government but she will not be granted a maternity leave on top of it. Instead of demanding companies employ babysitters and give mothers two hours for nursing, companies can just provide babysitters for every female employee with children under six years old,” she said.
