PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia: The Government has to check on Selangor's decision to allow for a maximum of 90 days of maternity leave for civil servants in the state.

Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam cautioned there might be legal implications in pension payments arising from the decision.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim also announced that husbands would enjoy a 14-day paternity leave, up from a week previously. Female staff whose husbands die will also get 30 days' leave, compared to three days of emergency leave previously.

Cuepacs president Omar Osman, when contacted, welcomed Selangor's move, saying it was in line with International Labour Organisation's requirements.

"We hope the Federal Government will also follow suit and increase maternity leave nationwide to 84 days or 90 days," he said.

Omar said the government's decision to slash the number of leave days to 25 for those joining the civil service from Jan 1 regardless of their tenure had affected women.

"The previous entitlement of 60 days' leave may be enough for some people but there are mothers who need extra days to attend to a sick child or emergency matters," he said.

He said the Government had agreed to increase maternity leave for civil servants to 84 days when Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was the Women, Family and Community Development Minister. -The Star/ANN