Newsletter Lefaso.net extension of the maternity leave at six months: "The biggest oppositions come from the fairer sex", according to Salif Ouédraogo

Lefaso.Net: Where did the idea of launching a petition for the extension of the maternity leave to six for women who wish?

Salif Ouédraogo: This initiative takes root in an observation which is the one that women are always stressed with the idea of leaving to work after her maternity leave that lasts three months.Not stress because she does not want to go back to work, but stress because the time was not enough either to accommodate this new situation, or to get used to her new responsibilities, or becausethat the tranquility that the child should have when one is not there is not well established.The result of all this is women who go back to work but who are not 100% at work.We thought it would be nice if these conditions, which are already good, be reviewed so that they (women) can have better peace of mind after a birth which is a rather special event in the life of a woman.

Concretely, what are the causes you defend?

Our fight is available in three points.The first point joins the outbreak of maternity leave.The law would like women to go on maternity leave for eight weeks at the earliest and at the latest four weeks before the probable date of issuance.What we would have liked is that it is not systematic, because all women are not housed in the same brand.

They do not wear their pregnancy in the same way.Their organizations do not react in the same way.The ideal would be that this leave was triggered by a medical opinion.The second point is that the woman allows to have the choice between the leave as applied currently, which is three months, and a six -month leave.The communication that has passed, people understand that the idea was that maternity leave was extended to six months.Yes, there is this aspect but there are two components.There is the extension component of three to six months, and the choice pane.The woman, depending on her condition (physical, sanitary, professional) can choose between three or six months of leave.The third point concerns men.

The arrival of a newborn is a situation concerning both parents.The first month of the arrival of a baby is a hassle for parents.We wanted what is already done, which is an authorization of three days that we grant to the dad to stay with his family in order to manage certain administrative formalities, be extended to one month.This will also allow him to build a link with the child, because the child already has a link with the mother.

You have launched a petition for the extension of maternity leave at six months to present the project to the National Assembly.Can you take stock of this day?

This petition is doing well.As I speak to you, we are at 12,865 signatures for a target of 15,000.

Are you optimistic about the adoption of this initiative by the National Assembly?

As in everything in which we are committed, we start from the principle that we will succeed.We are in this dynamic.The fact that we talk about it is already a victory;that people take the time to exchange on this, it means that it is a subject that has value.The challenge is to work to convince people you can do.Six months, it may seem a lot, but if it is done elsewhere, we too can do it.It's just a question of will and seeking the well-being of the woman and the child.Either we solve the problem now, or we solve it later.What are we trying to solve?Repeated absences when the woman resumes work, infantile diseases that occur because the child has not been sufficiently breastfed within.

If this initiative were to be adopted, do you not think that it will be able to have unfortunate consequences especially since it is not easy for an employer to organize himself in order to allow a long-term absence?

I understand this concern.Besides, we thought about that.Inevitably, it is a measure, if it has to pass, which will lead to a number of things.Petition is a communication action to attract people's attention to the subject.The next step is to constitute this group in an associative block which will have a formal and recognized existence.After that, there will be an awareness phase that will concern and the actors of the world of work and employers.

It is at the end of all this we will be dealing with the National Assembly to see how it could be passed by law.That means that on the way, we will have time to discuss and convince people, and to free up solutions for both.When an employee stays at home six months, social responsibility would like the employer to be concerned with his health, his family.Unfortunately, people look at the figures much more.Beyond the figures, there are men who work.These are the contributions of the latter that allow satisfactory results.

Will the extension of the maternity leave will not lead to an additional cost for finances?

Not necessarily.It has already been three months since the state takes care of.The other three months that remain, we can work that they receive minor services.The employee will thus be able to see her services decrease by 25% for example.This charge can be distributed between the State and the employer.These are questions that could be discussed if we agree that it is useful and that we should go in this direction.I have faith that we will find common ground.

Of the general observation, it appears that this initiative is not unanimous among the population.Some women believe they will be stigmatized with such a project.What is your comment on the question?

If our initiative is law, it will be official therefore compulsory.We will not be able to chase a woman because she gave birth and she must benefit from six months of leave.

Do you have a particular call for those who are reluctant?

These are women who should be our first supporters.Unfortunately, the biggest oppositions come from the fairer sex.While it is a measure that is supposed to protect them.I understand, because they say that it will be risky for them to do six months at home.But, I invite them to look at the fallout and get involved.Today, we are talking about six months old, people are shocked.But before perhaps, when we talked about three months, people were shocked in the same way.

Interview carried out by Aïssata Laure G.Sidibé Lefaso.net