Stakeholders mull paternity testing requirement for leave

Following the announcement that paternity leave will be introduced as one of the new provisions under the Public Sector Compensation Review, stakeholders are split as to whether paternity testing may be an important factor.

Making the announcement at a press conference yesterday afternoon, Finance Minister Nigel Clarke said paternity leave will be only introduced for public sector workers. The minister also announced that maternity leave will also be increased from 40 days to three calendar months, as well as a new leave for adoptive parents.

While expressing his pleasure at the announcement, Jamaica Civil Service Association President O'Neil Grant told THE STAR, "I don't think we will go that far in asking fathers to do it [paternity testing] or to prove that the child is theirs. Once the [child is a] product of a secured relationship, the father has a declared spouse, and that spouse has produced a child, I don't think we'll go all the way to say the father must prove that he is in fact the father. I wouldn't go that far."

Father's Inc executive director Lanny Davidson, however, said paternity testing may be an integral part of fathers receiving the time-off.

"Possibly a company may require a paternity test before approving the leave," he told THE STAR. "It's quite possible. It's also very important because Jamaica has the highest paternity fraud in the world. In the case of married couples, I don't think it would be necessary because the father is still required to maintain a child born within the marriage. So it wouldn't be for married couples, but that would definitely be an important factor."

Regardless of whether paternity testing will play a factor in the dissemination of the leave, Davidson said he is looking forward to fathers getting the chance to form bonds early in the lives of their children.

"For the involved fathers, it's always been difficult. For the mothers, it's difficult sometimes. It will be good for bonding with the child when it's young so it's really good for that," he said.

While the specifications of the leave have yet to be announced, Davidson says he is grateful for anything that is offered.

"It does feel like a victory. You know when you are asking for something for some time and it being acceded to, it is a victory. However it comes we will take it, we will accept it, we will run with it and we will see how we can quickly put it into policy working with the ministry of finance of course," he added.

The measures are set to be put in place by September 30, 2022.