An amendment to the Employment Act has been submitted to Parliament to extend paid childcare breaks for working parents until their child turns two.

The amendment was proposed on behalf of the Government by Madaveli MP Mohamed Shameez.

Under the current law, employees returning to work after maternity leave are entitled to two 30-minute breaks per day to attend to their child’s needs. However, this entitlement is limited to the child’s first year.

The proposed amendment seeks to extend this period until the child reaches two years of age. Once an employee resumes duty after maternity leave, they must be granted two 30-minute breaks each day, without any deduction from salary, to attend to matters relating to their child until the child turns two.

At present, all employees are entitled to a one-hour break during working hours. The additional time granted for child care after maternity leave would be provided on top of this existing break.

The amendment also proposes changes to notice periods required when terminating employment. Currently, employees who have worked between six months and one year are required to provide two weeks’ notice. Under the proposed changes, any employee who has worked for less than one year would also be required to give two weeks’ notice.

In addition, the amendment seeks to grant the Cabinet the authority to exempt certain categories of businesses from paying quota fees required to recruit expatriate workers. The proposal states that such exemptions would be aimed at supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), creating opportunities for new businesses, and enhancing competitiveness within the private sector.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has designated this year and the coming year as a focused period for the implementation of special measures to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), following a meeting with SME representatives on 17 November 2025.