Maldives to extend paid childcare breaks for working mothers
Proposed reform doubles paid childcare break period to two years while revising termination rules and foreign labor quotas
MALÉ, Maldives (MNTV) — The Maldivian government has introduced legislation to extend paid childcare breaks for working mothers, a move officials say is aimed at strengthening workplace protections and supporting early childhood development.
The amendment to the Employment Act, submitted to parliament by Madaveli lawmaker Mohamed Shameez on behalf of the government, would expand existing childcare provisions from one year to two years after a mother returns to work following maternity leave.
Under current law, female employees are entitled to two 30-minute childcare breaks per day — totaling one hour — during the first year after maternity leave. The proposed changes would extend that benefit for an additional year, allowing mothers to receive fully paid childcare breaks until their child reaches two years of age.
If approved, the measure would significantly expand state-backed workplace support in a country where balancing formal employment and family responsibilities remains a challenge, particularly in the private sector and in tourism-dependent industries that often involve long working hours.
Government officials have framed the amendment as part of broader efforts to promote gender equity, improve work-life balance, and safeguard infant well-being during the first two years of life — a period widely regarded by health experts as critical for physical and cognitive development.
Beyond childcare provisions, the bill also proposes revisions to termination notice requirements. Employees who have worked up to one year would be entitled to a minimum two-week notice period before dismissal.
The legislation further grants the Cabinet authority to exempt certain businesses from foreign worker quota fees. Authorities say the measure is designed to ease regulatory pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises, encourage innovation, and enhance competitiveness in key sectors of the island economy.
The bill is currently under parliamentary review. If enacted, it would mark one of the most substantial expansions of maternal workplace protections in Maldives in recent years.
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