Men should be able to access paternity benefits by next year, says Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
Although she did not provide details when she made the announcement when she contributed to the debate on the National Insurance and Social Security (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in Parliament on Friday, she said it was part of her Government’s commitment to reforming the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
“I am happy that the progress being reported to me is such that, hopefully by the beginning of next year, we can be there for the establishment of paternity benefits,” said Mottley who is also Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs.
“We cannot be asking for gender equity and leaving out paternity benefits. If we want our men to bond with their children, it is only fair that they be given an opportunity to do so from birth as well. And, therefore, . . . this Government takes pleasure in being able to meet the needs of this society and to be able to put in place a framework for the introduction of paternity benefits for men in Barbados as part of the National Insurance Scheme.”
In February 2020, during debate on the 2020-2021 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, Minister of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector Colin Jordan had said fathers would soon be getting paid leave to help take care of their newborn babies.
He said the leave would be granted under an arrangement similar to what currently obtains for women.
(KC)
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