Rwandan MPs seek to introduce one-month paternity leave

Some Rwandan legislators have proposed an increase in paternity leave from the current four days to 30 days, local media reports.

The MPs tabled the bill seeking to amend the 2018 law governing labour in Rwanda on Tuesday, arguing that fathers need more time to give adequate care to mothers as well as bond with the newborns.

One of the legislators, Frank Habineza, was quoted by the New Times newspaper as saying the four-day paternity leave was too short as “you realise that they often elapse when you are still at the health care facility” where the delivery took place.

“The father should get at least a month of paternity leave so that he takes care of his wife after giving birth. We see that this can be helpful.”

Another, Annoncée Manirarora, was quoted telling the House that the first caregiver to a woman who suffers complications during delivery is normally her husband, hence the need for an extended leave period.

“The four days are few because, for a mother who has complications while giving birth or gave birth to a premature baby, it is the husband who takes care of the wife. So, I think the father will not be able to take care of the mother and the child in those four days,” she said.

“It would be helpful if this paternity leave should increase to at least two weeks or a month.”

Rwanda’s Ministry of Public Service and Labour allows fathers five more leave days in case of birth complications for their wives. Working mothers are meanwhile entitled to a three-month leave (12 weeks).

In Kenya, fathers get a two-week paid paternity leave while for mothers, it is 3 months. Ugandan fathers are entitled to paternity leave of not less than four working days.

Sweden offers both parents access to 480 days (around 15 months) of shared leave with partial pay, while Japan offers one full year of paid parental leave exclusively for fathers.