The new law allows parents who apply for adoption of children to get a fully paid one-month pre-adoptive leave. Employers have hitherto been allowed discretion on whether to give adoption leave but they will be now legally bound to provide employees with the extra leave days.
It amended the Employment Act of 2007 to introduce fairly progressive labour practices in line with current global trends.
“The pre-adoptive leave granted to an adoptive parent shall guarantee such adoptive parents an uninterrupted opportunity to make all the necessary arrangements that may be required before the adoptive parent takes full custody and responsibility over the adopted child,†the newly enacted law reads in part.
Kenyan parents seeking to adopt a child who is below the age of two are now entitled to adoption leave of one month from their working environment.
“An employee may commence adoption leave on the date the adoption order is granted, or when the child is placed in the care of a prospective adoptive parent by a competent court, pending the finalization of an adoption order in respect of that child, whichever date occurs first,” the Employment Act stated.
An employee is expected to notify their employer in writing of the date to which they intend to go on leave, at least one month in advance, as well as of the intention to have a child placed under their custody, accompanied by the relevant adoption documents.
Uhuru also signed the Business Laws (Amendment) (No.2) Act of 2021 which amends several statutes enabling businesses in Kenya run smoothly.
Some of the statutes included the Industrial Training Act, which seeks to enable the payment of training levy at the end of the financial year for businesses.
“The proposal seeks to align the collection of payroll taxes and training levy to one standard date thereby simplifying the process of preparing, filing and paying the returns by employers,†it reads.
Other statutes amended by the new law include The Stamp Duty Act (Cap. 480), and The National Hospital Insurance Fund Act, 1998, The National Social Security Fund Act, 2013, The Companies Act, 2015, The Insolvency Act, 2015, and The Small Claims Court Act, 2016.
In attendance at the signing ceremony at State House was National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, National Assembly Majority Leader Amos Kimunya, Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, Treasury PS Julius Muia, among others.
Source: KENYAGIST.COM
