According to Senate Bill No. 8-114, currently there is no law requiring employers outside of the Palau Public Service System and because of the lack of statute, Mesebeluu said that the policies on maternity leave are inconsistent and unreliable.
The bill will make a female employee who has been employed for at least six months for a leave of absence with pay for a period not to exceed one month.
The employer is also required to restore the employee after her leave and that the employer should maintain a health insurance plan for the duration of the leave.
The measure said that the employer may recover the premium that the employer paid for maintaining health insurance coverage for the employees during the period of leave.
The measure added that any employer who will not grant an employee any maternity leave is liable under the law.
The measure said that an employee entitled to maternity leave who does not receive it shall be entitled to receive damages and remedies including punitive damages from the employer in an amount not to exceed $1,500.
The measure said the employee should also be entitled to all benefits such as group life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, sick leave, annual leave , among others.
