Zimbabwe Removes Maternity Leave Restrictions For Female Civil Servants
Female government employees will now enjoy fully paid maternity leave without the previous restrictions, after a new law was gazetted that changes conditions of service in Zimbabwe’s public sector.
The new legislation, known as the Public Service Amendment Bill, was gazetted by the Government of Zimbabwe and is expected to be presented before Parliament in the coming weeks. The Bill includes a raft of changes, but the most significant for many is the overhaul of maternity leave entitlements for female public servants.
98 Days Fully Paid — With No Limits
Clause 23 of the new Bill grants ninety-eight (98) days of maternity leave on full pay, a continuation of a right already present in the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01]. However, what’s changed is the removal of conditions that previously restricted access to the benefit.
Previously, a female civil servant had to be employed for at least one year to qualify. They were also restricted in the number of times they could apply for maternity leave.
Now, all that is gone.
“The clause removes the qualifying service period and the limit on the number of times maternity leave can be taken,” the Herald reported on 6 August 2025.
This means a woman employed in the public sector can now apply for fully paid maternity leave from day one, and it doesn’t matter how many children she has had before.
“It’s a significant move towards gender equity in the workplace,” said a Harare-based labour lawyer, who welcomed the development. “Women should not be penalised for giving birth, and this aligns with regional and international labour standards.”
The change is expected to benefit thousands of teachers, nurses, police officers, and other women working under Government ministries and agencies.
The Bill has already been approved by Cabinet and is awaiting debate in Parliament.
If passed into law, it will significantly change the landscape of public service employment in Zimbabwe.
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The post No More Limits: New Law Removes Maternal Leave Restrictions For Female Civil Servants appeared first on iHarare News.
