PUTRAJAYA: The Hulu Langat District Health Office's (PKD) decision to approve only 60 days of maternity leave for its medical officers does not violate maternity leave regulations, said Director-General of Public Service (KPPA) Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.
He said that have the discretion to consider granting maternity leave of between 60 days and 90 days for officers taking into account the importance of the service.
"In this regard, the approval of 60 days of maternity leave for medical officers at Hulu Langat PKD is subject to the department head's consideration, taking into account the importance of the service to ensure that public health services remain unaffected," he told Bernama.
He said this in response to a local news portal report that the Hulu Langat PKD has capped maternity leave to 60 days for all medical officers at health clinics in the district starting from June 27.
Wan Ahmad Dahlan explained that maternity leave facility is outlined in Service Circulars for Human Resources (MyPPSM) Items SR.5.4.1 and are provided to female officers to help them prepare for and recover from childbirth.
According to him, civil servants are entitled to fully paid maternity leave with a total duration of 360 days over their service period.
"The maximum maternity leave granted per birth is 90 days, and the minimum mandatory leave is 60 days. However, officers are given the flexibility to decide the period of maternity leabe between 60 days and 90 days for each birth," he said.
When asked if there is a replacement for any unused leave, Wan Ahmad Dahlan responded, "There is no replacement for the 30 days of leave not taken by the officer"
"However, officers can use any remaining maternity leave for the birth of a subsequent child," he said. — BERNAMA