Amendment to Extend Paid Childcare Breaks Until Child Turns Two Submitted to Parliament

A bill to amend the Employment Act has been submitted to the People’s Majlis to extend paid childcare breaks for working parents until their child reaches two years of age.

The amendment was proposed on behalf of the Government by Madaveli MP Mohamed Shameez. Under the current law, employees returning to work after maternity leave are entitled to two 30-minute breaks per day to attend to their child’s needs, but this entitlement is limited to the child’s first year.

The proposed changes would extend this period until the child turns two. Once an employee resumes duty after maternity leave, they must be granted two 30-minute breaks each day, without any deduction from salary, to attend to matters relating to their child.

The amendment clarifies that this additional time would be provided on top of the existing one-hour break all employees are entitled to during working hours.

The bill also proposes revisions to notice periods for terminating employment. Currently, employees who have worked between six months and one year must provide two weeks’ notice. The amendment would apply this same two-week notice requirement to any employee who has worked for less than one year.

Additionally, the legislation seeks to grant the Cabinet authority to exempt certain categories of businesses from paying quota fees required to recruit expatriate workers. The proposal states that such exemptions would aim to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs), create opportunities for new businesses, and enhance competitiveness within the private sector.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has designated this year and the coming year as a focused period for implementing special measures to strengthen SMEs, following a meeting with SME representatives on 17 November 2025.