7th Pay Commission recommends child care leave for single male parent

New Delhi: The 7th Pay Commission report has recommended Child Care Leave (CCL) for single male parent, which is currently given to only women employees.

CCL is granted to women employees for a maximum period of two years (730 days) during their entire service for taking care of their minor children (up to eighteen years of age).

The Pay Commission, headed by Justice A K Mathur, submitted its recommendations to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday.

"The Commission notes that in the event a male employee is single, the onus of rearing and nurturing the children falls squarely on his shoulders.

"Hence extension of CCL to single male parents is recommended," the report said.

It also recommended CCL at 100 per cent of the salary for the first 365 days, and 80 per cent of the salary for the next 365 days.

CCL was first introduced by 6th Central Pay Commission.

The report also said there is a "palpable need" to bring in some inhibiting feature so as to ensure that only genuinely affected employees avail of this scheme.

"Towards this end, the Commission recommends that CCL should be granted at 100 per cent of the salary for the first 365 days, but at 80 per cent of the salary for the next 365 days," the report said.

The report further said that the Commission recognises the additional responsibility on the shoulders of employees who are single mothers.

"Accordingly, it is recommended that for such employees, the conditionality of three spells in a calendar year should be relaxed to six spells in a calendar year," the 900-page report said.

In making the recommendation, the Commission said it has also kept in mind the fact the concept of a paid (whether 100 per cent or 80 per cent) leave solely for child care for a period of two years, "is a liberal measure unmatched anywhere else".