Parliament has today passed the bill proposing an amendment to the Employment Act which provides two 30-minute breaks per day for employees until their child turns two years of age. 

Previously, the Employment Act stated that these two 30-minute breaks in a day should be provided to staff until their child is one year old. 

The amendment was proposed by ruling People's National Congress (PNC) MP Mohamed Shameez, increasing the age of the child to two. 

The amendment also brough changes to giving notice of dismissal and overtime pay. 

As such, if an employee under a contract of no longer than one year is to dismissed, they must be provided two weeks notice. 

It further states that any work conducted overtime should be under an agreement. 

Further, the bill also grants the cabinet the authority to exempt quota fees in bringing in expatriate employees to certain types of businesses. The bill specifies that such exemptions may be granted only to support small and medium enterprises, foster new business opportunities, and to preserve competitiveness. 

MDP proposed that the work breaks for parents be increased to a total of 90 minutes per day, but this did not receive approval in parliament. 

Another proposal from MDP that did not pass was to require parliamentary approval for quota fee exemptions. 

The amended Employment Act was passed today after the National Development and Heritage Committee endorsed it with unanimous support from the 62 MPs in attendance.