Family Responsibilities

This page was last updated on: 2023-05-10

Paternity Leave

In accordance with section 27 of the BCEA, workers with at least 4 months of service are entitled to fully paid family responsibility leave of 3 days during each annual leave cycle (12 months). Family responsibilities include the birth of a child, among other family events.

Upon the request of the employer, a worker must provide reasonable proof of the event necessitating family responsibility leave. 

In line with a 2018 amendment in BCEA, employees are entitled to a 10-day leave paid paternity leave on the birth of a child (paid through Unemployment Insurance Fund). Adoptive parent is also entitled to a paternity leave of 10 days from the date the adoption order is granted or that a child is placed in the care of a prospective adoptive parent by a competent court, pending the finalisation of an adoption order in respect of that child, whichever date occurs first.

A worker is required to notify the employer in writing, unless the employee is unable to do so, of the date on which the employee plans to start parental leave; and return to work after parental leave. Such notification must be given at least one month before the employee’s child is expected to be born; or the adoption date (or the adoption order date) or if it is not reasonably practicable to do so, as soon as is reasonably practicable.

The paternity benefit must be paid at a rate of 66% of the earnings of the beneficiary at the date of application, subject to the maximum income threshold set in the Unemployment Insurance Act.

Source: §25A and 27 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 (last amended in 2018); §12 of the Unemployment Insurance Act 2001 (last amended in 2018)

Parental Leave

No provisions could be located in the law supporting parental leave for new parents after exhaustion of maternity leave.  

Flexible Work Option for Parents / Work-Life Balance

No provisions could be located in the law supporting work-life balance for parents or workers with family responsibilities.

Regulations on Family Responsibilities

  • Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 (amended in 2002 & 2013)

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