KINGSTON, Jamaica – A new People’s National Party (PNP) Government will increase the amount of maternity leave granted to women and introduce paternity leave for men as a means of strengthening Jamaican families.

This was stated by PNP President and Opposition leader Mark Golding as he addressed the public session of his party’s 84th Annual Conference at the National Arena in St Andrew Sunday afternoon.

It was Golding’s first time addressing the party faithful in such a forum since he was elected to the post of PNP President in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when public gatherings were largely banned.

Golding noted that Jamaica has many households that are headed by mothers and said ways must be found to support them. But, he lamented that the country’s maternity leave requirements have not changed since the 1970s when they were pioneered by the PNP when eight weeks of paid leave and four weeks of unpaid leave were introduced.

“Since the year 2000 the International Labour Organisation’s Maternity Protection Convention has mandated a minimum of 14 weeks or 98 days of paid maternity leave and recommends 18 weeks.

“Jamaica is among the 30 per cent of countries which remain noncompliant with that standard. Time come to upgrade Jamaica’s maternity leave requirement to current international best standard,” Golding argued.

Additionally, Golding said “we also respect fathers who show up and partner with mothers. They also need support and we will introduce legislation to create an entitlement to paternity leave with pay for fathers so men can bond with their newborn children and build stronger family life in this country”.

“A strong family is essential to the future; that is why the social fabric is unravelling, we need to build strong family life,” he added.

In recent times, several private sector companies have announced that they will be granting paternity leave with pay to allow fathers to bond with their newborns.