[Barbados] Landmark paternity leave introduced and maternity benefits extended

In Barbados, the government has made a historic shift by recognising the evolving role of fathers and diverse family structures. It will introduce statutory paternity leave and extend maternity leave from June 1, as part of progressive reforms announced in the country’s March 10 budget, Barbados Today reports. 

During his budget speech, Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn announced that fathers would receive three weeks’ statutory paternity leave in recognition of their role in nurturing children. 

“This early support is of immediate and long-term benefit, both to the mother, and the child, and ultimately, to the community. Mister Speaker, I now propose that with effect from June 1 2025, the introduction of statutory paternity leave for men of three weeks. With this statutory provision and recognising our modern society, we will also remove, with effect from June 1 2025, the condition that both parents have to live together when the child is born in order to access these benefits,” he said. 

Maternity leave will reportedly increase from its current rate of 12 weeks to 14 weeks for single births and 17 weeks for multiple births. 

Stating that the government was committed to supporting family structures, Mr Straughn detailed several additional changes set for implementation at the beginning of June. 

“We will remove the stipulation of three confinements with the same employer for maternity benefits. We will remove the requirements that a child should be born in Barbados and instead say that a child born to a mother who is ordinarily resident in Barbados,” he said. 

Acknowledging significant improvements in healthcare services on the island - with maternal mortality rates approaching zero - the minister reportedly noted there were circumstances where mothers were unavailable to meet their newborns’ needs. He confirmed that caregivers such as fathers or grandparents should be eligible for support previously restricted to mothers.

“With effect from June 1, 2025, we shall convert the maternity grant to a child grant, recognising that the primary provider of care for a child may not always be the mother of that child,” Straughn declared. “This is quite a progressive move, befitting Barbados in the 21st century. The government has designed these measures with a clear understanding as to how Barbadian society works and our complex family structures, as well as the fundamental role of the family served in the development of communities and the stability and progress of the nation,” Mr Straughn.

Source: Barbados Today

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Barbados, the government has made a historic shift by recognising the evolving role of fathers and diverse family structures. It will introduce statutory paternity leave and extend maternity leave from June 1, as part of progressive reforms announced in the country’s March 10 budget, Barbados Today reports. 

During his budget speech, Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn announced that fathers would receive three weeks’ statutory paternity leave in recognition of their role in nurturing children. 

“This early support is of immediate and long-term benefit, both to the mother, and the child, and ultimately, to the community. Mister Speaker, I now propose that with effect from June 1 2025, the introduction of statutory paternity leave for men of three weeks. With this statutory provision and recognising our modern society, we will also remove, with effect from June 1 2025, the condition that both parents have to live together when the child is born in order to access these benefits,” he said. 

Maternity leave will reportedly increase from its current rate of 12 weeks to 14 weeks for single births and 17 weeks for multiple births. 

Stating that the government was committed to supporting family structures, Mr Straughn detailed several additional changes set for implementation at the beginning of June. 

“We will remove the stipulation of three confinements with the same employer for maternity benefits. We will remove the requirements that a child should be born in Barbados and instead say that a child born to a mother who is ordinarily resident in Barbados,” he said. 

Acknowledging significant improvements in healthcare services on the island - with maternal mortality rates approaching zero - the minister reportedly noted there were circumstances where mothers were unavailable to meet their newborns’ needs. He confirmed that caregivers such as fathers or grandparents should be eligible for support previously restricted to mothers.

“With effect from June 1, 2025, we shall convert the maternity grant to a child grant, recognising that the primary provider of care for a child may not always be the mother of that child,” Straughn declared. “This is quite a progressive move, befitting Barbados in the 21st century. The government has designed these measures with a clear understanding as to how Barbadian society works and our complex family structures, as well as the fundamental role of the family served in the development of communities and the stability and progress of the nation,” Mr Straughn.

Source: Barbados Today

(Quotes via original reporting)