Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Maternity Protection Convention (Revised), 1952 (No. 103) - Papua New Guinea (Ratification: 2000)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the application of the following Articles of the Convention: Article 3(2) and (3) (length of maternity leave – teaching), (4) and (5) (extension of leave in the event of error in the date of delivery and prenatal leave in the event of illness arising out of pregnancy), (6) (extension of leave after childbirth in the event of illness arising out of childbirth – teaching) and Article 5 (nursing breaks).

Legislative reforms. The Government indicates that the Employment Act, the Public Services (Management) Act and the Teaching Services Act are under review. The Committee hopes that the Acts referred to above will be adopted in the near future and that they will contain provisions giving full effect to the following Articles of the Convention: Article 1 (maternity protection for public service employees, and auxiliary members or associate auxiliary members of the teaching staff) and Article 3(2) and (3) (length of maternity leave in the private and public sectors).

Article 4 of the Convention. Medical and cash benefits. The Government indicates that no progress has been made regarding the establishment of a compulsory social insurance scheme providing medical and cash benefits, but undertakes to adopt measures in this respect. The Committee reminds the Government that it may have recourse, if it so wishes, to the technical assistance of the Office with a view to giving effect to this Article of the Convention, which provides that all women fulfilling the required conditions shall be entitled to receive cash benefits and medical benefits throughout the period of leave envisaged in Article 3, either by means of compulsory social insurance or by means of public funds.