Could maternity leave in Lebanon be extended?

Source: MTV news

When a woman gives birth, she does not simply begin a new chapter in her life. She also enters a different race between a child who needs her and a job that cannot wait for long. Ten weeks is the period currently granted by Lebanese law before a mother must return to work, carrying with her the exhaustion of childbirth, the anxiety of separation from her newborn, and the pressure of maintaining her professional career.

Today, a proposal to extend maternity leave to 14 weeks and paternity leave to 10 days is being discussed, in a move that appears more equitable and humane. But behind this potential gain lies an important question: could women end up paying for this right in another way, as some institutions become reluctant to hire married women or women who may become mothers?

“Family-friendly legislation”

MP Inaya Ezzeddine, head of the Parliamentary Committee on Women and Children, tells MTV that “the draft law is now before the Joint Parliamentary Committees, but it has not yet been placed on the agenda due to other legislative priorities.” If approved, maternity leave would increase by an additional four weeks, representing an increase of around 40 percent compared with the current period.

The move comes as part of what Ezzeddine describes as a “package of family-friendly legislation,” aimed at reconsidering the relationship between employment and childcare. As the committee sees it, the issue is not simply about giving women four additional weeks, but about creating an environment that allows them to remain in the workforce without motherhood becoming a reason for losing their jobs or rights.

Wage exploitation and conditions at work

But behind the proposed legislation lies a broader process that began following the economic crisis that hit Lebanon, according to Ezzeddine.

She says that “reports and studies showed that working Lebanese women were among the groups most affected by the repercussions of the crisis on the labor market, particularly in terms of job losses. From here, the committee launched, over the course of about a year, a series of discussion panels and public hearings under the title ‘Women’s Economic Empowerment in Times of Crisis.’ Working women and stakeholders took part, alongside the presentation of studies and data concerning women’s position in the labor market.”

Ezzeddine notes that “one of the most significant findings was that around 65 percent of working women in Lebanon are employed in the informal economy, making them more vulnerable to wage exploitation, violations of their rights and unfavorable working conditions.”

Part-time work without losing social security

Another idea being considered by the committee, Ezzeddine explains, is “allowing mothers to work part-time if maternity leave remains at its current duration, provided that this does not result in the loss of their basic rights, particularly those related to social security.”

This is a crucial point, because in Lebanon, shifting to part-time work often means that some female workers lose part of their social protection or employment-related benefits.

A paid hour for breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is also part of the legislative discussion. In this context, Ezzeddine points out that “the first 1,000 days of a child’s life are considered a critical stage in shaping their future health, which prompted the committee to introduce the idea of granting women one paid hour during the working day for breastfeeding.”

The proposal carries both health and social implications, giving mothers actual time that would allow them to continue breastfeeding after returning to work.

Childcare centers also on the table

Ezzeddine has also proposed establishing childcare centers within large institutions, alongside reorganizing Lebanon’s daycare sector or providing mothers with an allowance to cover the cost of enrolling their children in daycare.

She explains that “work on this issue revealed shortcomings in the standards and safety measures of some daycare centers, highlighting the need for clearer frameworks for oversight and regulation.”

Ultimately, the issue is not simply about four additional weeks in the life of a Lebanese woman. It is about creating an entire environment that is fairer to working mothers in Lebanon, so that the “blessing of motherhood” does not become a burden on their professional careers, and women are not forced to make the painful choice between their children and their future in the labor market.