Thailand maternity leave extension in process

Thailand’s Department of Labour Protection and Welfare is increasing the statutory maternity leave entitlement by eight days, from the current 90 days to 98 days. The proposed changes will also separate the leave into a separate prenatal leave period of eight weeks and a postnatal leave period of six weeks, for a total of 14 weeks. It is still unclear at what rate of pay employers would be required to fund the additional maternity leave. The changes are part of a draft bill before the national assembly to amend the Labour Protection Act, which is expected to become law in early 2019.