Working women must have equal maternity leave

BANGLADESH is the second country in South Asia in term of women employment but most working-women here are also deprived of gender benefits such as maternity leave as reported in a vernacular daily. Though every working woman becomes mother under going the same perils they face discrimination in maternity benefit depending on the nature of profession and also between the government and private sector employers. This discrimination is uncalled for and in our view it must go.
It is noticeable that working women in government offices and public sector banks are enjoying six months maternity leave with pay to prepare for motherhood and take care of newborn babies. But in private sector they get less leave and lesser benefits. We know Bangladesh Labour Act-2006 has granted the leave with benefit for working pregnant women as their right but lack of proper monitoring over the private sectors deprives many of such benefits. As women empowerment is directly related with economic growth, maternity benefit is also interrelated with present and future development of the nation. The state must ensure equitable maternity rights and benefits to all irrespective of the nature of jobs and be it in public or private sector.
As per figure presented by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, at present 16 million women are working in public, private, NGOs, in addition to educational institutions and other sectors. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) officials claim more than 80 percent workers in their payroll are female and at reproductive age. A recent BGMEA survey claimed around 82.7 percent garment factories provide maternity benefit to female employee and at least 66.27 factories are equipped with daycare centers. But it is also reported that many garment workers are denied of the benefits forcing them to leave the job while many others get only part of the benefits they are entitled to. Moreover case studies showed that female workers in media, private banks, educational institutions, NGOs, and several other private sectors are being deprived of the benefit that must end.
Rights workers are quite correct when they say maternity leave and benefits ensure the women at the same time to get back to their work and plays a significant role to increase organizational loyalty, efficiency and productivity of the firm she works for. When a woman is engaged in economic activities it is possible for the entire family to benefit from it. Her absence from workplace during maternity also does not cause income drop and enable the family to continue to spend for education, nutrition and health care without concerns.
We are against all form of gender discrimination and particularly call for equal treatment of female workers in public and private sector workplace. The state must develop a mechanism to make sure that every woman at work can enjoy maternity leave so that a mother feels healthy at pregnancy to help build a healthy nation.