Beijing's extra maternity leave a welcome move

FEMALE EMPLOYEES IN BEIJING are now entitled to an extra 30 days maternity leave, according to a revised family planning regulation adopted by the capital on Thursday. Beijing Times said on Friday:

The new regulation, which is based on the revised national Law on Population and Family Planning adopted on Jan 1, said that with the consent of their employers all female employees in Beijing who give birth are entitled to one to three months in addition to the 98 days leave mandated by the national law.

However, many female employees still have concerns about whether their employers will approve the extended leave or not, especially at a time when some of their other legal interests are not sufficiently protected.