Business / Local
Zim Labour Act oppressing women
11 Apr 2012 at 10:21hrs | Views
Professional women have described the country's Labour Act which grants working women a maximum of three paid maternity leave periods as oppressive and have called for its review.
Section 18 sub section 3 of the Labour Act 28.01 does not provide for the provision of paid maternity leave for a women if she has a fourth pregnancy.
Zimbabwean women, however, say a female employee has the right to have any number of children she wants and should not be disadvantaged in any way.
The women say the Act is discriminatory and must be reviewed.
Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association Programme Officer, Mrs. Rebecca Magorokosho â€" Musimwa said while employer and employee rights need to be respected, denying a woman her pay when she falls pregnant more than three times is discriminatory.
The Labour Act was first amended in 1985 and has been further amended several times.
However, no consideration has been given to the section that deals with maternity leave.
Despite Zimbabwe having made strides in empowering women, this part of the Labour Act appears to have escaped attention, thus disadvantaging thousands of professional women.
Section 18 sub section 3 of the Labour Act 28.01 does not provide for the provision of paid maternity leave for a women if she has a fourth pregnancy.
Zimbabwean women, however, say a female employee has the right to have any number of children she wants and should not be disadvantaged in any way.
The women say the Act is discriminatory and must be reviewed.
Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association Programme Officer, Mrs. Rebecca Magorokosho â€" Musimwa said while employer and employee rights need to be respected, denying a woman her pay when she falls pregnant more than three times is discriminatory.
The Labour Act was first amended in 1985 and has been further amended several times.
However, no consideration has been given to the section that deals with maternity leave.
Despite Zimbabwe having made strides in empowering women, this part of the Labour Act appears to have escaped attention, thus disadvantaging thousands of professional women.
Source - Zbc
