The National Assembly is considering ratifying the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on Maternity Protection, which could greatly benefit working mothers and their families.

If ratified, the convention will extend maternity leave from 12 to 14 weeks, protect women from dismissal during pregnancy, and ensure job and income security. 

The Deputy Minister of Labour, Hafeni Ndemula, believes the ratification of the convention will bring comprehensive maternity protections to Namibia, ensuring better health, job security, and financial support for mothers, and promoting the welfare of Namibian families.

"This is in the best health interest of a mother and the child and is also in line with the World Health Organisation's recommendation on exclusive breastfeeding of babies under the age of six months. The daily breastfeeding breaks or reduction of working hours shall be counted as working time, remunerated accordingly."

The convention also makes provision for paid breaks or reduced working hours for mothers to breastfeed and receive at least two-thirds of their previous or insured earnings to ensure that families are financially supported during this period.

"Once the convention is ratified, the current ceiling of maternity benefit must be revised or revisited to be in conformity with a two-thirds earnings requirement. The convention recognises the right to health protection and can request member states to adopt measures to ensure that a pregnant or nursing woman is not obliged to perform work prejudicial to her health or that of a child where an assessment has established a significant risk to the mother or child."

The proposed ratification attracted both support and criticism from members of parliament.

These protections will apply to all women, including those in the informal sector.