Indonesia allows upto one month of paternity leave for civil servants

According to The Jakarta Post, male civil servants in Indonesia are now allowed up to one month of paternity leave, as set out in a 2017 regulation issued by the National Civil Service Agency (BKN) on different types of leave.

The regulation stipulates that male civil servants whose wives are set to give birth can be granted leave by providing a statement letter from the healthcare service.

BKN agency spokesman Mihammad Ridwan said in The Jakarta Post,  the paternity leave was part of the government’s effort to promote gender equality by getting male employees to take part in care taking obligations.

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"The regulation also stipulates that the paternity leave does not cut into annual leave. Male civil servants will also receive their monthly income," Ridwan said as reported by Antara, adding that the income comprised both salary and allowances.

This is the first instance of regulation for paternity leave in Indonesia, said Ridwan, adding that the 2003 Manpower Law only permitted male workers to take two days leave to accompany their wives at the time of birth. The same law also provides female employees with three months of maternity leave.