MATERNITY LEAVE COST A WHOPPING RM1.57 BILLION

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysian employers spent about RM1.57
billion annually, in providing 60-day maternity leave to its female employees, a
seminar on gender equality was told Tuesday.

A study undertaken by the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) showed that
each confinement cost RM7,500. The amount comprised RM3,000 in wages and RM4,500
in overtime allowances.

In his paper on maternity protection, reconciling work and family
responsibilities, MEF vice-president A. Ramadass said that under existing laws,
employers bore this cost for up to five surviving children

He said the cost would escalate to RM2 billion, if the maternity leave were
to be increased to 84 days, as was the case in Singapore.

However, he pointed out that in Singapore, for the first two confinements,
the employers paid for the first eight weeks and the additional four weeks were
funded by the government.

For the third and fourth confinements, the government paid for the full 12-
week maternity leave.

The two-day seminar which began Tuesday, is organised by the human resources
ministry, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation.

It was attended by about 50 participants from various government agencies,
trade unions and non-governmental organisations.

Lactation consultant Nor Kamariah Mohamad Alwi told the seminar that
mother's milk was a unique source of nutrition, an incalculable immunity
protection and a natural way of nurturing the future generation.

She said breastfeeding also provided significant health benefits to the
mother and was tremendous economic gain, in terms of food cost.

Nor Kamariah said the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended exclusive
breastfeeding for the first six months and thereafter, it be continued up to two
years with complementary foods. (US$1=RM3.64)
-- BERNAMA