Brazil’s Family Minister Proposes One-Year Maternity Leave, Three Months for Fathers

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights, Damares Alves, 55, suggests extending both maternity and paternity leave in Brazil: for one year, instead of the current 120 days for mothers, and two or three months, instead of the five days granted today to fathers.

“I advocate for more time for the mother with the child at home,” said the minister, the second guest of UOL and Folha’s joint interview program in Brasília.

She further praised Hungary’s policy of offering three years of maternity leave with 110 percent of pay in the first year, 80 percent in the second and 50 percent in the third.

In advocating the proposal, Damares says she is aware that “industry will react,” knows that the agenda rests with Congress, but says that there are several projects on the table in this regard that will have her support.

Source: UOL