President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has revealed the state spends USD 2 million per annum on maternity leave.
In an interview with a local media station, President Solih said as part of the efforts to overtake responsibilities that were shouldered by the staff who are granted maternity leave, the state has to employ almost 400 temporary staff.
However, the president added regardless of such practices burdening state finances, these are rights that need to be granted and the responsibility of the state is to cater to the conveniences of the majority. He added the decision to grant an extended maternity leave was a decision backed by research, gives way to a sustainable trend.
Noting the majority of the civil service is women, the president said the government would be seeking means by which the expenditure on granting maternity leave for women can be reduced from recurrent expenditure. The president said it was his decision to grant extended maternity leave, which gives him the most comfort among all the first 100- day pledges of the administration.