Zambia's controversial 'Mother's Day' law applicable to all women

OAccording to Zambia’s labour laws, female workers are
allowed to take a day off duty each month. The law is
seen as a reprieve to women during that time of the
month – when they are in their period.

The law is so wide open that women are allowed to
absent themselves when they want to and without any
medical justification to back their absence – that seems
to be the major point of contention, interestingly among
men and women alike.

“ We have been educating women about
Mother's Day, telling them that on that day,
they are supposed to rest and not even go
shopping or do other jobs because it is
wrong. ”

The law further indicates that any employer who denies
their employees the right to ‘Mother’s Day’ could be
prosecuted. As per the law, a simple call is enough to
notify the employee.

According to James Hall on his twitter handle  said

"New Zambia labour law allows women one paid
day off monthly when they are having their
periods; called Mothers Day but applies to all
women.  @hallaboutafrica

The labour unions in the country however provide a
rather restrictive explanation of what the law ‘really’
means. Speaking to the BBC, a union leader said a
woman did not have to even leave her house on
Mother’s Day, that they are supposed to spend the
entire day at home.

‘‘We have been educating women about Mother’s Day,
telling them that on that day, they are supposed to rest
and not even go shopping or do other jobs because it
is wrong,’‘ Catherine Chinunda said.

Chinunda who is a national trustee of the Zambia
Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) added that the
entitlement ‘‘would have to be forfeited’‘ if a woman
were to take it on a day that she was not on her
period.

Persons in favour of the law say it is only fair to notice
and ‘reward’ the efforts of working women who have to
combine domestic chores with their professional
engagements. Women – married or not do a lot of
multitasking and deserve the day off in their view.
Opponents however argue that aside the vague aspects
of the law, it also encourages laziness in working
women. They say menses are a normal natural
occurrence in women, a process akin to pregnancy and
child birth.

The Zambian Federation of Employers (ZFE) is
particularly worried about how the law could affect
businesses especially because women could skip
planned assignments with the excuse of taking their
Mother’s Day.

Imagine a company that has a number of employees
and six or seven take Mother’s Day on the same day.
What will happen to productivity?’‘ ZFE head Harrington
Chibanda quizzed.

Historically, the day was observed in the 1990s before
it was passed into law, Labour Minister Joyce Nonde-
Simukoko has said. The minister – a former trade
unionist, also added her voice to warn women who
attempt to abuse the privilege.

Credits #www.africanews.com