MPs Push to Extend Paid Maternity Leave to 70 Days

TDT | Manama

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Four women MPs, Hanan Fardan, Jaleela Alawi, Basma Mubarak and Maryam Al Saiegh, have brought forward a proposal to extend paid maternity leave in the private sector from sixty to seventy days. The matter is scheduled for a vote in Parliament on Tuesday.

Their proposal seeks to amend Article 32 of the Labour Law, which currently allows sixty days of paid leave, to be taken before and after childbirth, with a medical certificate as proof. A further fifteen days of unpaid leave may also be taken. The new draft would increase the paid period by ten days while keeping the unpaid portion unchanged.

‘We are guided by the Constitution,’ said Fardan. ‘It requires the state to support women as they balance family duties and their role in the workforce. This proposal walks in that direction.’ She noted that Egypt and Saudi Arabia already provide longer maternity leave, with Egyptian law granting ninety days and Saudi labour rules allowing women to take ten weeks on full pay.

The Services Committee, which examined the text, has recommended its approval. In its report, the committee said the amendment is grounded in sound legal reasoning and consistent with the country’s stated aim of supporting working families.

The Ministry of Labour, however, raised concerns. It argued that while the extension may appear helpful, it risks discouraging employers from hiring women. ‘The sixty-day leave currently in place followed thorough study,’ the ministry said. ‘Lengthening it, while well-meaning, may add strain to small and medium-sized firms who must cover that absence.’ It also warned that the amendment would widen the gap in benefits between public and private sector workers and could slow down efforts to improve women’s employment rates.

The Ministry of Health confirmed that maternity certificates are issued based on the medical condition of the expectant mother and that the sixty-day allowance already matches that of the public sector.

The Supreme Council for Women called for caution, warning that the proposed change might make employers more hesitant to hire women. ‘Any revision of this kind needs to be weighed against its wider effects,’ the Council said, pointing to the importance of preserving balance between workers’ rights and business continuity.

The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged lawmakers to leave the law as it stands. In its submission, it said the current legal arrangement already offers fair leave while avoiding strain on businesses. It warned that even small changes could create unintended pressure on firms’ resources and weaken their ability to grow.

The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions backed the proposal, saying it aligned with recent moves in other countries to give workers more time to care for their families. The Bahrain Women’s Union also expressed support. Its president, Ahlam Rajab, said the change was long overdue. ‘There are women who need those extra ten days,’ she said. ‘Not as a gift but as something earned, something necessary for their own recovery and the care of their newborns.’

Parliament is expected to decide on the matter Tuesday.