Cuepacs, the umbrella union for some 800,000 civil servants, said today it will not ask the federal government to pursue the Terengganu government's policy of providing 90 days' paid maternity leave for female workers and seven days' paternity paid leave for male workers.

"From 1998, apart from the 60 days' maternity leave, the federal government has also given an additional 30 days' leave without pay for women," Cuepacs secretary-general Abdul Rahman Wanan told malaysiakini today.

He said that the union would leave it to the state governments whether they wished to grant longer maternity leave for their civil servants.

Earlier this month, Terengganu State Secretary Wan Nawawi Wan Ismail had issued a circular providing 60 days maternity leave plus 30 days childcare leave for women, and seven days paternity for men.

Hence, the women will get full pay for a total of 90 days leave - 60 days of which paid with salary and 30 days paid as special maternity allowance. In addition, the women can apply for another 60 days leave as unpaid childcare leave.

Abdul Rahman said that Cuepacs would like to see the efficiency of the new policy in Terengganu.

As long as the policy does not affect the civil servants' efficiency, Cuepacs hoped the federal government will consider following the same policy, he added.

Meanwhile, several women groups have welcomed the Terengganu PAS government's policy on maternity leave, describing it as a "progressive move".

Zaitun Kassim, from Women's Candidacy Initiative, stated that the move should encourage the federal government to look into it and implement the same policy as it will only attract more women to participate in the workforce.

She pointed out that the initiative will create a baby and child friendly society.

"A child friendly society is not only a breast feeding room for women, and childcare is not the women's sole responsibility, whereas we should re-frame our mind that it should be a community responsibility," said Zaitun.

She stressed that the issue is not limited to the 90 days' leave, but the women should not lose their seniority after they come back to work.

"A lot of women fear that they will be demoted or asked to leave, or simply seen as the burden to the employer if they ask for more maternity leave, and the new policy of the Terengganu government will ease the worry of these women, and hence create a family friendly society," she said.

Irene Xavier, president of Sahabat Wanita, said the Terengganu government's policy has also recognised the role of man in child caring.

She said that the seven days' leave given to the male civil servant during his wife's maternity leave acknowledges the importance of the husband.

She pointed out that the money used by the Terengganu government for giving the maternity leave is worthwhile in comparison with funds spent on other projects.

"The time given will cater to the physical and emotional needs of the babies," she added.