a. Comprehensive Paid Parental Leave Package (Maternity and Paternity)
All South Asian countries have established national paid maternity leave policies, which employers are required to enforce. Furthermore, national paid paternity leave is gradually gaining traction across South Asia, contributing to the well-being of families and supporting wives in the process.
b. Medical and Family Leaves
Medical leave is granted to employees who are unable to work due to illness. Family leave encompasses both short-term and extended leaves intended for the care of immediate family members, such as a spouse, children, and parents, who are dealing with illness. This category also covers emergency caregiving responsibilities for children and elderly family members. It's worth noting that in some countries, parental leaves (maternity and paternity) are considered a subset of family leaves.
c. Annual Leave (Vacations and Time Off)
In all South Asian countries, national paid annual leave policies have been established as part of labor laws (refer to Figure 15), and employers are obligated to adhere to these regulations. This provision guarantees individuals and their families the opportunity to take time off for vacations and personal needs.
d. Hiring and Salary Policies
The Motherhood Pay Gap and Motherhood Penalty, characterized by discriminatory practices in compensation, can discourage working mothers from maintaining their employment. It is essential for organizations to proactively review their hiring and salary policies to eliminate these forms of discrimination.
Each country's national policy data, as of Feb. 2023:
Parental Leave National Policy (Maternity)
Country
Days
% of wages
Legislation
Who pays?
Bangladesh
16 weeks (4 months)
100%
Labor Act 2006
Employer
Bhutan
24 weeks (6 months)
100%
Labor and Employment Act 2007, Amendment 2016
Employer
India
26 weeks (6 months +)
100%
Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2017
Employer, and Social Insurance
12 weeks for the 3rd child
The Maldives
12 weeks (60 days)
100%
Employment Act, Sec. 43
Employer
Nepal
14 weeks
100%
Labor Act 2017
Employer
Pakistan
36 weeks (180 days) for the 1st child,
100%
Maternity and Paternity Leave Act, 2020
Employer
24 weeks (120 days) for the 2nd child
18 weeks (90 days) for the 3rd
Child
Sri Lanka
12 weeks for the 1st and 2nd child
100%
Maternity Benefits (Amendment) Act, 2018
Employer
6 weeks after the 3rd to 6th
Child
France
26 weeks (6 months +)
100%
Bill to fund social security for 2021, article 35
Social Security
The United States
12 weeks (3 months)
0%
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), 2020
None (A paid maternity leave does not exist)
Japan
26 weeks (6 months +)
67%
National Health Insurance Scheme, Amendment 2022
Social Security or Health Insurance
Parental Leave National Policy (Paternity)
Country
Days
% of wages
Legislation
Who pays?
Bangladesh
N/A (The government is reviewing it in 2022.)
--
--
--
Bhutan
10 days
100%
Labor and Employment Act 2007, Amendment 2016
Employer
India
15 days
100%
Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2017
Employer
The Maldives
3 days
100%
Employment Act
Employer
Nepal
15 days
100%
Labor Act 2017
Employer
Pakistan
30 days
100%
Maternity and Paternity Leave Act, 2020
Employer
Sri Lanka
N/A
--
--
--
France
25 days (1 month)
100%
Bill to fund social security for 2021, article 35
Social Security
The United States
12 weeks (3 months)
0%
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), 2020
None (Non-paid maternity leave)
Japan
12 weeks (3 months)
67%
National Health Insurance Scheme, Amendment 2022
Social Security or Health Insurance
Annual Leave National Policy
Country
Days
% of wages
Legislation
Who pays?
Bangladesh
10 working days
100%
Labor Act 2006
Employer
Bhutan
18 working days
100%
Labor and Employment Act 2007, Amendment 2016
Employer
India
12 working days
100%
The Factories Act of 1948
Employer
The Maldives
30 working days
100%
Employment Act, Sec. 43
Employer
Nepal
18 working days
100%
Labor Act 2017
Employer
Pakistan
14 working days
100%
The Factories Act of 1934
Employer
Sri Lanka
14 working days
100%
Maternity Benefits (Amendment) Act, 2018
Employer
France
30 working days (at least 5 weeks)
100%
Labor Law
Employer
The United States
No law, it depends on the employee
0%
--
US workers are not legally entitled to any paid holiday.
Blog » Key Policies
Key Policies
a. Comprehensive Paid Parental Leave Package (Maternity and Paternity)
All South Asian countries have established national paid maternity leave policies, which employers are required to enforce. Furthermore, national paid paternity leave is gradually gaining traction across South Asia, contributing to the well-being of families and supporting wives in the process.
b. Medical and Family Leaves
Medical leave is granted to employees who are unable to work due to illness. Family leave encompasses both short-term and extended leaves intended for the care of immediate family members, such as a spouse, children, and parents, who are dealing with illness. This category also covers emergency caregiving responsibilities for children and elderly family members. It's worth noting that in some countries, parental leaves (maternity and paternity) are considered a subset of family leaves.
c. Annual Leave (Vacations and Time Off)
In all South Asian countries, national paid annual leave policies have been established as part of labor laws (refer to Figure 15), and employers are obligated to adhere to these regulations. This provision guarantees individuals and their families the opportunity to take time off for vacations and personal needs.
d. Hiring and Salary Policies
The Motherhood Pay Gap and Motherhood Penalty, characterized by discriminatory practices in compensation, can discourage working mothers from maintaining their employment. It is essential for organizations to proactively review their hiring and salary policies to eliminate these forms of discrimination.
Each country's national policy data, as of Feb. 2023:
Parental Leave National Policy (Maternity)
Country
Days
% of wages
Legislation
Who pays?
Bangladesh
16 weeks (4 months)
100%
Labor Act 2006
Employer
Bhutan
24 weeks (6 months)
100%
Labor and Employment Act 2007, Amendment 2016
Employer
India
26 weeks (6 months +)
100%
Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2017
Employer, and Social Insurance
12 weeks for the 3rd child
The Maldives
12 weeks (60 days)
100%
Employment Act, Sec. 43
Employer
Nepal
14 weeks
100%
Labor Act 2017
Employer
Pakistan
36 weeks (180 days) for the 1st child,
100%
Maternity and Paternity Leave Act, 2020
Employer
24 weeks (120 days) for the 2nd child
18 weeks (90 days) for the 3rd
Child
Sri Lanka
12 weeks for the 1st and 2nd child
100%
Maternity Benefits (Amendment) Act, 2018
Employer
6 weeks after the 3rd to 6th
Child
France
26 weeks (6 months +)
100%
Bill to fund social security for 2021, article 35
Social Security
The United States
12 weeks (3 months)
0%
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), 2020
None (A paid maternity leave does not exist)
Japan
26 weeks (6 months +)
67%
National Health Insurance Scheme, Amendment 2022
Social Security or Health Insurance
Parental Leave National Policy (Paternity)
Country
Days
% of wages
Legislation
Who pays?
Bangladesh
N/A (The government is reviewing it in 2022.)
--
--
--
Bhutan
10 days
100%
Labor and Employment Act 2007, Amendment 2016
Employer
India
15 days
100%
Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2017
Employer
The Maldives
3 days
100%
Employment Act
Employer
Nepal
15 days
100%
Labor Act 2017
Employer
Pakistan
30 days
100%
Maternity and Paternity Leave Act, 2020
Employer
Sri Lanka
N/A
--
--
--
France
25 days (1 month)
100%
Bill to fund social security for 2021, article 35
Social Security
The United States
12 weeks (3 months)
0%
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), 2020
None (Non-paid maternity leave)
Japan
12 weeks (3 months)
67%
National Health Insurance Scheme, Amendment 2022
Social Security or Health Insurance
Annual Leave National Policy
Country
Days
% of wages
Legislation
Who pays?
Bangladesh
10 working days
100%
Labor Act 2006
Employer
Bhutan
18 working days
100%
Labor and Employment Act 2007, Amendment 2016
Employer
India
12 working days
100%
The Factories Act of 1948
Employer
The Maldives
30 working days
100%
Employment Act, Sec. 43
Employer
Nepal
18 working days
100%
Labor Act 2017
Employer
Pakistan
14 working days
100%
The Factories Act of 1934
Employer
Sri Lanka
14 working days
100%
Maternity Benefits (Amendment) Act, 2018
Employer
France
30 working days (at least 5 weeks)
100%
Labor Law
Employer
The United States
No law, it depends on the employee
0%
--
US workers are not legally entitled to any paid holiday.
Japan
10 working days
100%
Labor Law
Employer