Nigeria’s Maternity Leave Policy Needs a Makeover: Let’s Give Moms the Support They Deserve
Picture this: you’ve just given birth to a beautiful baby, and you’re excited to spend the next few weeks bonding with your little one. But then you remember you live in Nigeria, where the maternity leave policy is, well, lacking.
You have to return to work after just 12 weeks, and even then, you only get half your salary for the first six weeks. It feels like a punishment for choosing to become a parent, doesn’t it?
As an HR consultant, I recently had to design an employee handbook for one of my clients and create a template for our online HR store. Everything was going smoothly until I got to the maternity leave section, and the realization hit me like a ton of bricks: Nigeria’s maternity leave policy is not enough to support working mothers.
Yes, the Nigerian Labor Act guarantees female employees a minimum of 12 weeks of maternity leave, but that’s just the bare minimum. And let’s not forget that during that period, women only receive half their salary for the first six (6) weeks. It’s hardly enough to cover the expenses that come with a new baby, let alone provide the necessary time to bond with and care for the child.
But it’s not just about the financial aspect.
Becoming a new parent is a life-changing event, and mothers need adequate time to heal physically and emotionally, as well as adjust to their new roles. That’s why countries with the best maternal policies, such as Norway, Sweden, and Iceland, offer much longer periods of paid maternity leave, allowing mothers to focus on their health and their babies without the added stress of returning to work too soon.
I believe we need a new social contract for Nigerian mothers, one that recognizes their rights and contributions to society. One that supports them in balancing their work and family responsibilities. One that enables them to thrive in their personal and professional lives.
What would such a social contract look like?
Well, for starters, it would guarantee a minimum of 20 weeks of paid maternity leave at 100% of their salary, regardless of how long they have been with their employer. This is in line with the recommendation of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the practice of many countries around the world.
According to a recent report by Business.org, some of the best countries for maternity leave are Greece (26.6 weeks), Slovakia (25.5 weeks), Estonia (20 weeks), Poland (20 weeks), and Luxembourg (20 weeks). All of these countries offer a 100% payment rate during maternity leave.
Some countries even offer more generous benefits, such as Sweden (56 weeks at an 80% payment rate) and Norway (18 weeks at 95.5% payment rate).
These countries have realized that investing in mothers is investing in the future. They have seen the benefits of providing adequate maternity leave, such as improved maternal and child health, increased female labor force participation, a reduced gender pay gap, enhanced employee retention and loyalty, and higher productivity and innovation.
But paid maternity leave is not enough.
We also need to ensure that mothers have access to quality and affordable childcare services, flexible work arrangements, equal opportunities for career advancement, and protection from discrimination and harassment. We need to create a culture that values motherhood and respects diversity.
This is what Minouche Shafik calls for in her book, “What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract.”
She argues that we need to rethink our social contract in light of the changing realities of our world, such as globalization, technological disruption, demographic shifts, and environmental challenges. She proposes a new set of principles and policies that would ensure everyone has a fair chance to succeed and contribute to society.
One of her key ideas is that we need to support people through different stages of life, especially during transitions such as becoming a parent, changing jobs, or retiring.
She suggests that we should provide universal basic services such as education, health care, childcare, eldercare, and digital access. She also advocates for more progressive taxation, stronger social protection, and greater civic engagement.
I find her vision inspiring and compelling. I think it offers a way forward for Nigeria and the world. I think it resonates with our values and aspirations as a nation. I think it reflects what we owe each other as human beings.
That’s why I’m calling for a new social contract for Nigerian mothers. And I hope you will join me in this campaign.
If you want to learn more about this topic and how we can make it happen, please visit our website or online HR store. There you will find useful resources, tools, and templates to help you design and implement effective HR policies and practices for your organization.
Thank you for reading today.
Until next time,
Jennie
