Vodafone has announced that it will become one of the first organisations in the world to introduce a mandatory minimum global maternity policy.
By the end of 2015, women working at all levels across Vodafone’s 30 operating companies in Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific region, Europe and the US will be offered at least 16 weeks’ fully paid maternity leave as well as full pay for a 30-hour week for the first six months after their return to work, the company said in a statement yesterday.
For Vodafone Qatar, this means its female employees starting maternity leave from now or those already on maternity leave will benefit from one extra month (total of 112 calendar days) of paid maternity leave. Vodafone provides one of the highest maternity benefits in Qatar where the standard in the market is 50 calendar days off, according to the statement.
The news, timed with International Women’s Day 2015, was celebrated by Vodafone Qatar’s female employees and their children who were invited to spend a few hours with their mothers at the company’s headquarters.
The announcement was made by Dalya al-Khalaf, Vodafone Qatar’s director of strategy, and Anita Tomany, head of talent, capability and resourcing, as part of a whole week dedicated to Women (March 8-15) that will include competitions as well as learning and networking activities.
Kyle Whitehill, CEO, Vodafone Qatar, said, “Twenty-eight per cent of Vodafone Qatar’s employee base is made up of women; we want to retain and grow this number and so have been determined to instil a culture in our company that supports, develops and rewards our female employees with the same and equal benefits that their male counterparts receive.”
Vodafone also announced yesterday the outcome of analysis commissioned from KPMG, which indicates that global businesses could save up to an estimated $19bn annually through the provision of 16 weeks of fully paid maternity leave.
Al-Khalaf and Tomany announcing the new maternity policy.
