Currently, working mothers in Rwanda are entitled to a three-month leave, while fathers are allowed only four days. The bill provides for maternity leave, but without specifying its length, while proposing that the Order of the Minister in charge of labor determines the number of days for both maternity and paternity leave.
MP Frank Habineza, one of the lawmakers who proposed the amendment, noted that the current four-day paternity leave was too small, as fathers often spend most of it at the healthcare facility. Habineza argued that a month of paternity leave would allow fathers to take care of their partners and help them bond with their newborns.
MP Annoncée Manirarora, another proponent of the proposed amendment, emphasized the importance of a longer paternity leave for fathers whose partners may have complications during childbirth. She noted that, in such situations, the father is often the primary caregiver for both the mother and the newborn.
The Ministry of Public Service and Labor, however, maintains that fathers are entitled to five additional days in the event of complications, bringing the total to nine days.
Lawmakers, however, believe that nine days are still insufficient and argue that the law should specify longer paternity leave.
The Minister of Public Service and Labor, Fanfan Kayirangwa Rwanyindo, said that the current labor law in Rwanda does not clearly specify paternity leave. She proposed that paternity leave and maternity leave be determined by an order of the Minister in charge of labor.
While some MPs have expressed concern that such determinations should be made by the actual law and not an order, Minister Rwanyindo noted that the proposed amendment is an improvement towards increasing the number of days for both maternity and paternity leave.
In Africa, paternity leave policies vary widely depending on the country. Some countries, such as Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, have laws that provide for paternity leave ranging from one to two weeks.
Other countries, such as Somalia and Eritrea, do not have any paternity leave policies.
Globally, there is also significant variation in paternity leave policies. In countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Iceland, fathers are entitled to several months of paid paternity leave. In contrast, in countries such as the United States and Japan, there are no federal laws mandating paternity leave, although some companies may offer it as a benefit.
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