Pakistan approves Maternity and Paternity Leave Bill 2023

Pakistan President Arif Alvi on Tuesday approved the Maternity and Paternity Leave Bill, 2023 to enact it as a law, allowing woman employees up to 180 leaves during pregnancy and men 30 30 days thrice during their employment tenure.

Under the bill, the women employees of the public and private departments under the administrative control of the federal government will be entitled to avail maternity leave with full pay three times during service – 180 days for the first time, 120 days for the second time, and 90 days for the third time. According to the new law, male workers will be entitled to apply for paternity leaves for 30 days three times throughout their employment period.

In case of a violation of the law, employers can be subjected to imprisonment for up to 6 months and a fine of up to Rs100,000 ($348), or both.