Namibia's Minister of Justice and Labour Relations, Fillemon Wise Immanuel, has expressed concerns that introducing statutory paternity leave could lead to some men taking a year off work if they have multiple children with different women. Immanuel emphasized that while the absence of statutory paternity leave is an issue, careful consideration is needed to avoid impacting workplace productivity. Currently, Namibia has no law providing for a specific paternity leave benefit, and employers offer it through their own workplace policies.
The debate on paternity leave comes as the Social Security Commission (SSC) prepares to increase its maternity benefit from N$15,000 to N$20,000 from 1 October 2026. This increase has sparked discussions about whether fathers should receive comparable support and whether maternity benefits could influence decisions about having children. The issue was raised in parliament by Affirmative Repositioning member of parliament Fredrick Shitana, who questioned when men would have access to benefits comparable to those provided to women.
Immanuel noted that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) does not have a convention compelling member states to introduce statutory paternity leave, but governments have the power to legislate for it. He referred to ILO Convention 156, which addresses workers with family responsibilities and promotes equality of opportunity and treatment for workers with such responsibilities. Namibia ratified the convention in August 2025.
Some women have welcomed the increase in maternity benefits, saying it could provide meaningful financial relief during a period when childbirth and caring for a newborn can place considerable pressure on household finances. However, others have cautioned against viewing the benefit as a reason to have more children. Augustine Iyaloo, 29, emphasized that maternity comes and goes, but the child stays forever, and the financial responsibility of raising a child extends far beyond the period covered by the benefit.
Economist Elizabeth Nakwezi Munalula said the increase was significant, particularly for lower-income workers, but cautioned against considering the N$20,000 in isolation. She noted that pregnancy and raising a child don’t stop when maternity leave ends, and the real financial question is what happens to a household financially after that money is gone. Munalula emphasized that raising a child could involve expenses spanning 18 to 20 years.
The debate on paternity leave and maternity benefits follows recent calls for Namibians of childbearing age to have more children. Swapo Party Women’s Council leader Fransina Kahungu called on Namibians to have more children, arguing that Namibia needs a larger population to support economic growth. However, others have questioned whether Namibia is prepared for the additional pressure that could accompany a growing population.
Activist Michael Amushelelo welcomed the increase in maternity benefits but argued that the SSC should eventually move towards replacing a contributing woman’s full basic salary during maternity leave. He rejected the idea that women should have more children simply because Namibia needs a larger population and future workforce, emphasizing that people do not raise children for three months but for decades.
Key points
- The introduction of statutory paternity leave in Namibia could impact workplace productivity.
- The increase in maternity benefits has sparked discussions about population growth and its implications.
- The debate on paternity leave and maternity benefits highlights the need for careful consideration of their potential impact on workplace productivity and population growth.
