Executive Director in the Ministry of Labour, Quinton Laroda has revealed to ZNS News that a two week extension to maternity leave could be enacted by 2026.
He said, “we’re close to the sign off of the convention with the goal basically of addressing the question of maternity leave, breastfeeding and so forth and also looking at a national program on occupational safety and health.”
The move would bring the country in line with with the rules of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Laroda said, “once your country signs on to these conventions its expected that within a year you would convert those conventions into law.”
He further stated, “through the legislation they make an ILO convention that happened in Geneva a reality in The Bahamas. If you have some difficulty after you’ve signed on in creating it into law or some challenges ILO will send you technical support.”
The Labour Executive Director said that the government is exploring making paternity leave part of national policy. He believe it will be given serious consideration especially since it has already been included in some industrial agreements.
