Introduced by Sen. Jesse Raglmar-Subolmar, the bill will amend Title 8 of the Yap State Code to allow paid maternity leave for employees of the government of the state of Yap.
Raglmar-Subolmar said during the precious Legislature a resolution was adopted urging the governor to adopt and promulgate amendments to the Yap State Public Service System Regulations concerning maternity leave but to this date no action has been taken.
He alluded to the sharing of both sick and annual leaves as stated in the current law.
He mentioned how prior discussions of the need to address the issue prompted the introduction of the bill.
This is a unique need of employees that needs to be addressed, he added.
Currently an employee is allowed maternity leave without pay up to six months after delivery. Under the bill, the first six weeks of those six months of maternity leave will be paid.
Attorney General Michael Nigrey said from a legal perspective, the bill is technically sufficient.
He said regulation should also be changed accordingly to reflect the six weeks paid leave and that those six weeks will begin after delivery.
He asked if this would involve the father, which prompted a question whether it would be unconstitutional not to include the father of the child.
Nigrey said further legal research is needed.
Another big discussion was the abuse of such leave.
Raglmar-Subolmar said such abuse should not entirely be blamed on the employees, but also on the supervisor for allowing them.
Supervisors and managers are in place to prevent such abuses, he added.
Bonding of child and parents was also brought up and that the needs for mothers to bond with their children who are not breast feed need a longer period of time to bond with their child.
Vice Speaker Ted Rutun asked how much will it cost the government to enact the bill into law.
It was learned that information would be needed to make an assessment.
