Society

Tunisia-MP Ali Bouzouzia: “There is objection to draft law on maternity and paternity leave from private sector” [Video]

In a statement to Tunisie Numérique, MP of the Sovereign National Line bloc, Ali Bouzouzia, and Vice-Chairman of the Parliament’s Health, Women’s Affairs, Social Affairs, and People with Disabilities Committee, confirmed that the draft law amending maternity and paternity leave saw several obstructions.

Bouzouzia clarified that the draft law, which was submitted by many MPs, includes approving a holiday for maternal women, extending 3 weeks before childbirth and 14 weeks after. This includes both the public and private sectors. He revealed that parliament had listened to the different involved parties, such as the Presidency of the Government, the Ministry of Women, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Social Affairs, as well as representatives of the private sector from the Al-A’raf Organization.

The MP pointed out that there were problems in enforcing this law in the private sector, as the owners of establishments did not approve of this law, and until now the draft law on maternity and paternity leave in the Anti-Corruption Committee is still regulating the administration.

He added that paternity leave, it was restricted to 7 days in the previous law, but in the proposed new law, it will be amended and its duration has not been specified, particularly since this law will include several revisions after caution on it by representatives of the private sector.

He continued to say that the Ministry of Finance, in turn, will present a draft law related to maternity leave to the House of People’s Representatives.