The Moroccan government approved on Thursday a bill allowing male employees to take a paid paternity leave from work.
This is the first procedure of its kind in Morocco.
Government Spokesperson Mustapha Baitas said the decision comes in implementation of April’s agreement with Moroccan unions, which stipulated a government commitment to grant new fathers a 15-day paid leave from work.
During a press conference following a government meeting Thursday, Baitas said the draft law aims to change and complete Chapters 38 and 46 of the Dhahir (Royal decree) and to allow male employees to benefit from a paid paternity leave of 15 consecutive days.
According to the government spokesperson, the female employee who has been assigned to sponsor a child will also benefit from a sponsorship leave and a breastfeeding leave of one hour per day.
New mothers in Morocco receive 14 weeks of maternity leave, according to the country’s labor law, but not fathers.
The government spokesperson said these amendments come within the framework of improving the rights of employees, men and women, and enabling them to harmonize between their professional and private lives.
The paternity leave is only applied to government employees, not workers in the private sector, who are only allowed maternity leave.
