Wanita Gerakan is glad that the Penang state government is following the footsteps of the federal government to extend maternity leave from 60 to 90 days for the public sector.

Wanita Gerakan deputy chief Ng Siew Lai said Wanita Gerakan has always been supportive of this good policy because women today are equally important as men in taking care of the family’s financial needs.

“On behalf of Penang government servants, we would like to thank the state government for agreeing to implement the policy in the state,” said Ng in a statement.

Ng, who is also Penang Wanita Gerakan chief, expressed the hope that the private sector would follow suit so as to encourage more women to join the workforce and contribute to the nation’s growth.

She reiterated that a 90-day maternity leave coupled with other measures to make working place more family-friendly would encourage more women to join the workforce.

She added that a 90-day maternity leave would also help to improve women’s physical and mental health, and strengthen the parent-child relationship.

The state had approved the provision for maternity leave for state government staff and civil workers to be extended from 60 to 90 days.