NATUC is calling for measures to properly enforce proposed amendments to the Maternity Protection Act and Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act.
Announced recently by the Government, the move includes paternity and parental leave, paid breastfeeding breaks, and the extension of maternity and parental rights to contract workers.
While it has welcomed the measures, NATUC warns that progressive legislation, on its own, is not enough.
It believes the reforms must be underpinned by robust enforcement mechanisms.
It is calling for:
• Mandatory trade union consultation in all retrenchment and restructuring processes
• Guaranteed severance payments, including the establishment of a national severance protection mechanism
• Fast-tracked industrial court and tribunal processes for maternity, discrimination, and retrenchment-related cases
• Deterrent penalties that prevent employer abuse, rather than relying solely on compensation after harm has already occurred
