JAMAICA
The Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) is to push for the introduction of paternity leave in the country’s Public Service.
President of the JCSA, O’Neil Grant (pictured) said fathers needed time off from work at the birth of their children, similar to the period provided for mothers under the Maternity Leave Act.
“We do recognise that our men have been showing that they are responsible, and they want that responsibility to be recognised formally,” Mr Grant said.
“When we have children … we want to be there for them.”
He said the JCSA was lobbying for policies to be developed that would lead to an institutional arrangement for paternity leave.
Mr Grant said the JCSA would also be advocating for leave for adoptive parents, as they needed time to bond with their child.
“That child that is being brought into the home has an adjustment period, and both parents are needed to go into the adjustment period,” Mr Grant said.
“It makes the integration of that child into the family setting easier.”
He also announced that JCSA would establish a resource centre in the capital, Kingston.
Mr Grant said the facility would be mainly for children of JCSA members, but residents in the area would also be able to access it.
He said the centre would offer numeracy and literacy programs for children and adults and facilitate homework and internet-based research.
Kingston, 16 September 2019
