Progressive People’s Party (PPP) Presidential candidate Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom was caught off guard on the campaign trail after he was asked for his views on extension of maternity leave to six months.
“It’s a tough one, admittedly it is a tough one” he told workers during a meeting with the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
The businessman proceeded to explain some of the difficulties he faces in hiring women.
According to him, disagreements often break out between him and his wife, Yvonne Nduom, when it comes to who to employ whenever there is a vacancy in his several businesses.
“We discuss this, we debate and argue about this all the time”.
Dr Nduom said his wife prefers employing a woman for positions that involve the handling of monies because “she says women are more honest.”
“When I say man, she says woman…man, woman and then when the woman is gone I say do we go and get a man, she says another woman”.
The PPP Presidential candidate explained that allowing a woman to proceed on six months maternity leave poses serious challenges to the employer.
Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) says:
“Female workers are entitled to 12 weeks (84 days) maternity leave as well as full wages during the eighty four day period. The maternity benefit is paid by the employer. A woman worker onmaternity leave is entitled to her full remuneration and other benefits to which she is otherwise entitled.”
“Six months? Six months? So when you are gone for six months is there somebody temporarily in your job? If the person gets promoted then the one who was gone, the woman says ah? they by-passed me,” the business mogul quizzed.
The CEO of Groupe Nduom said his managers sometimes kick against employing a woman because of the inconvenience posed when they marry and bear children. “The managers come and complain ah why? Next time let’s put a man there but that is also not possible,” he said.
Dr Nduom who once served as a Minister in erstwhile Kufuor administration said the interest of any business is on the line if a woman gives birth to three children in three years.
He called for negotiation between the employer and the female employee to agree on the best way to satisfy both interests.
“There is a problem we must realise. We need to work at this…it is a complicated matter” he said.
“Don’t forget, my wife is a woman” he joked.
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