Bahrain Mirror: The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has rejected a motion that aims at granting female employees abortion leaves equivalent to the 60-day maternity leave.

The BCCI addressed the MPs saying that the proposal will be a burden on employers and will expose them to huge material losses, also creating negative repercussions on the private sector due to the large number of leaves granted under the Labor Law in the private sector.

The Chamber also warned that the parliamentary law will lead to the reluctance of employers to hire women in the private sector.

The Supreme Council for Women backed the motion, stressing that it aimed at supporting women and providing stability for the Bahraini family, pointing out that there is no difference between the mother giving birth to a child alive or dead, in line with the opinion of the Ministry of Health, which considered that "Abortion is a painful experience that causes psychological fatigue, abdominal pain and severe cramps. Severe, moderate or mild bleeding may also occur, so the period of leave may allow the mother to recover her physical and psychological health."

It is planned to have a vote on the motion proposed by MP Ghazi Al Rahma in the House of Representatives next Tuesday.

For their part, the Women's Union, the General Federation of Workers Trade Unions in Bahrain and the Free Federation of Workers Trade Union in Bahrain have supported the motion.

Arabic Version