UNB, Dhaka

The Cabinet yesterday in principle approved the draft of Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2023, increasing the maternity leave to 120 days from 112 days (16 weeks).

The approval came from the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office in the city.

“Now a female worker can avail 16 weeks as maternity leave -- -eight weeks before the birth of a baby and eight weeks after the birth. But the leave has been made 120 days in the draft law,” said Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain while briefing reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat after the meeting.

A woman can enjoy the leave at her convenient time before or after the delivery of the baby, he said.

Besides, the condition for formation of a trade union was eased in the proposed law.

The Cabinet also approved in principle the draft of Payra-Kuakata Development Authority Act, 2023 to make development in a planned way there.