KATHMANDU: The government has proposed granting mothers at least six months of paid maternity leave and fathers 42 days of paid paternity leave.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam said the provisions have been proposed in a bill to amend the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act, 2075.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Gautam said the proposed bill would be presented to the Cabinet before being tabled in Parliament for discussion and approval.

Gautam said ensuring that parents have sufficient time to care for newborns and their families is a responsibility of the state. She noted that changing lifestyles and increasing work pressures have contributed to declining family sizes.

According to Gautam, although pregnancy and childbirth directly involve women, childcare and parenting should not be considered the sole responsibility of mothers.

“Parenting is a shared responsibility,” she said, stressing the need for both parents to have adequate time to care for their newborn and support their families during the early stages of a child’s life.

If endorsed by the Cabinet and passed by Parliament, the proposed provisions would introduce significant changes to Nepal’s existing maternity and paternity leave framework.