Hodge
Social Security’s Public Relations Officer, Ms. Rosanna Browne, held a press conference on Wednesday, April 17th to announce the issuing of the first check of paternal benefit paid to a father following the birth of a newborn child.
Ms. Browne stated that the Anguilla Social Security Board was the first Social Security institution in the region to have introduced a paternity benefit. The recipient of this benefit was Mr. Carlos Simon of Welches, Executive Chef at Davida’s Restaurant. His baby, Caraina Arianna Simon was born on March 9th.
Attending the conference were the Commissioner of Labour, Ms. Joann Hodge; Deputy Director of Human Resource Management with the Government of Anguilla, Mrs. Charmaine Rogers; as well as Social Security’s Deputy Director, Dr. Maglan Lewis, and Ms. Paulita Bryson, Manager of Social Security’s Benefit Department. Also present was Ms. Marva Smith, Member of Social Security’s Public Relations Committee.
Acting Deputy Director, Dr. Lewis, remarked: “Today is a special day for us at Social Security. The Director, who is on vacation, would have liked to be here. This has been our dream for quite a while, and we must say thanks to the Government of Anguilla, and in particular, the Honourable Minister of Labour, Mrs Cora Richardson Hodge, who did all she could to make sure that this legislation came to fruition.
“A lot of work would have gone into formulating this law, and I want to commend all who have had a part to play in its realization. It has been a challenge for us to roll it out. Ms. Bryson, our Benefits Manager, would have encountered many questions from the public on the matter of paternal benefits. As a result, we have had to resort often to inquiring from Mrs. Hodge in the Labour Department on pertinent issues regarding this benefit. Eventually, we have been able to sort out the kinks, and here we are now paying our first father.”
Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Joann Hodge, commented: “In the new Labour Relations Act that was assented to this year, there are two types of leave that are
associated with the birth of a child, namely: maternity leave, and paternity leave. Paternity leave is a relatively new concept, but it is in keeping with best labour practices worldwide.
“In the Labour Relations Act, it stipulates that ‘a father of a child, or the mother’s husband, can receive up to four consecutive weeks of paternity leave.’ The first two weeks are leave taken with pay. That is compulsory. When the law specifies ‘with pay’, it means two weeks pay less any amounts that would be payablwe under the Social Security Act.
“After the first two weeks, the law stipulates that the second two weeks are with or without pay. This means that we have left it up to the discretion of the employer to provide pay for the second two-week period, but in any case, the additional two-week’s leave is mandatory, and must be taken after the mother’s confinement period, and not prior to the confinement date. Further, the full four-week’s leave must be taken within 16 weeks after the confinement date.”
In addition, Mrs. Hodge specifically noted that there has been a change in the Labour Relations Act at with regard to extended leave for a mother, She noted that while under the former law a mother was entitled to 13 weeks’ leave, the maternal leave has been now revised and extend to 14 weeks.
Social Security’s Benefit Manager, Ms. Paulitoa Bryson said: “The existence of Social Security is to improve the quality of life for all, and that is done through the provision of meaningful benefits. Therefore, we are indeed happy to be making our first payment of paternal benefit today.
“We did face certain challenges, along the way, which we have conquered. We received our first claim of March 18th, and since then we have had six more claims pending payment. This new law might be a challenge for employers, because it is a new provision, and so employers need to be sensitized to its existence and the process that it involves.”
Bryson
Speaking on behalf of the Government of Anguilla, Deputy Human Resources Director, Mrs. Charmaine Rogers stated: “In 2012, the Anguilla Public Service saw the need to amend our regulations to include leave for male officers who would have become fathers of a newborns. It was then legislated that those who served for one year or more would be entitled to receive ten working days (two weeks) leave with full pay.”
Mrs. Rogers sought to clarify. “These fathers would be paid at the time when they embark on the leave. However, it is to be clear that for government male workers there would be no additional pay to them during the actual four-week’s leave provided by the new Labour Relations Act. They would have already gotten their two weeks with pay, and any additional leave, according to government regulations will be without pay.”
The media made certain comments and asked questions relating to the new provision of the law. These questions were well answered and the comments were cordially entertained by Social Security personnel.
– Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan
