Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim has echoed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s call for the private sector to match the 90-day maternity leave provided to civil servants.

“It has been announced by (the) prime minister yesterday, so whether they (private sector) agree or disagree, it has to go on.

“Women should know that this is part of our rights as women employees in the country,” Rohani was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

Currently, the standard amount of maternity leave provided by the private sector is 60 days as per the Employment Act.

In his Budget 2018 speech yesterday, Najib had proposed for "maternity leave for the private sector to be increased from 60 days to 90 days as implemented by the public sector."

Rohani said longer maternity leave periods could improve productivity, saying that the performance of young mothers returning to the workforce could be affected if they did not have enough rest.

“The more the welfare of women is taken care of, the more they will be able to give back to the company. Women work really hard and I believe when we are treated well, we will give back more than what we received,” she said.

Malaysiakini's Budget 2018 microsite