Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC says the Government is delivering major gains for working families, with expanded maternity protections and the introduction of parental and paternity leave now on the way.
The announcement was made on Sunday by Labour Minister Leroy Baptiste, who revealed that Cabinet has approved sweeping amendments to the Maternity Protection Act and the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act.
Mrs. Persad-Bissessar said that for the first time, the legislation will formally recognise paternity and parental leave, extending benefits to adoptive parents and guardians and providing parental leave in cases where a mother dies following childbirth.
The proposed reforms will also introduce paid breastfeeding breaks, strengthen protections against workplace discrimination, ban pregnancy testing for job applicants and employees, and guarantee a return to the same job after maternity, paternity or parental leave.
Additional measures include shifting the burden of proof to employers in workplace disputes, extending full protections to contract workers, fast-tracking cases through the Industrial Court, and removing the existing rule that limits maternity benefits to once every 24 months.
The Prime Minister said the changes are designed to ensure women no longer have to choose between building a career and starting a family, noting that motherhood and professional advancement can go hand in hand.
She added that mothers have long been central to both family life and national development, and these reforms reflect Government’s commitment to supporting modern families and strengthening the workforce.
Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar said the legislation has now been sent to the Attorney General for drafting.