Strengthening Malaysia’s Elaun Pasca Cuti Bersalin (EPCB) by including fathers — Lee Min Hui, Farqani Mohd Noor and Juanita Vasquez Escallon

On October 27, the Elaun Pasca Cuti Bersalin (EPCB) policy in Malaysia is set to be strengthened by including fathers as beneficiaries, according to reports from Lee Min Hui, Farqani Mohd Noor, and Juanita Vasquez Escallon. This move aims to recognize the shared responsibility of care during the crucial early years of a child's life.

Currently, only mothers are eligible for the extended paid childbirth benefit, which provides up to a month of maternity leave at 80% of salary for insured working mothers under Perkeso. However, by including fathers, Malaysia can improve job attachment and support its goal of raising women's labor force participation to 60% by 2030.

The International Day of Care and Support is an opportunity to evaluate whether current policies fairly distribute care within families and reduce the gender gap. Research shows that paid paternity leave can enhance father-child bonding, increase men's participation in unpaid care work, and mitigate the "child penalty" for women, which often leads to wage declines, reduced labor force participation, and hindered career progression.

While there may be fiscal and legal challenges, a phased approach could be taken to introduce flexibility for families to share the extended benefit between mothers and fathers. A practical starting point would be to offer families the option to divide the benefit, recognizing the diversity of caregiving arrangements. A second step could involve extending paternity leave to 14 days, financed through the Employment Insurance System (EIS) and estimated to cost between RM70 million and RM90 million annually.

This modest investment would send a powerful message that care is a shared responsibility, essential in enabling both parents to fulfill their duties. Ultimately, the EPCB's extension could be incorporated into a comprehensive family-friendly policy package, including adequate parental leave and breastfeeding facilities.