Maternity Leave will not affect salary entitlements

According to the new Labour Code No. 4/2012, Article 59, on the matter of maternity leave reads all female workers are entitled to three months maternity leave and during this time the company must continue paying their full wages as per the contract.

“UNTAET Law Article 11 on the matter of maternity, grants three months leave for new mothers and it contains a 2/3 salary entitlement. So if a worker makes $100 per month they will be entitled to $66.66 monthly. The new Labour Code states the minimum wage is $115 and they will be able to continue receiving $115 while on maternity leave,” said the President of the Confederate of Unions Timor-Leste (KSTL), Jose da Conceição (08/06) from his office in Colmera, Dili.
He added over the past ten years consecutive governments failed to protect the rights of workers and they continue to be victimised by existing laws.
He said female workers continue to get paid only 2/3 of their salary while on maternity leave and in some instances they are not paid altogether.

“We believe the new labour code law is good and it provides protection to female workers,” said the President of KSTL da Conceição.

Meanwhile according to the President of the Board Rede Feto, Ivete de Oliveira, said she hopes the new labour code law will benefit women in regards to their maternity leave entitlements as this has not received much attention from the government.

“I urge the government to implement this law well so that we can guarantee female workers receive their entitlements in particular while on maternity leave and so employers do not cut their wages,” said President de Oliveira.