Grand Cayman, Tuesday 12 March 2024 – The Cayman Islands Civil Service has announced that the Cabinet has approved the issuance of drafting instructions to amend the Personnel Regulations to increase parental leave provisions for civil servants. The increases will enhance the Government’s overall benefits package and afford new parents valuable time and additional financial support while they are establishing those all-important initial bonds with their infants.

When finalised, the Personnel (Amendment) Regulations 2024 will, among other things:

• increase overall maternity leave entitlements from 90 working days to 110 working days,
• increase overall paternity leave entitlements from 2 working weeks to 20 working days,
• increase the paid portion of maternity leave from 30 working days on normal pay to 60 working days on normal pay, and
• increase the paid portion of paternity leave from one week on normal pay to 10 working days on normal pay.

Minister with responsibility for Gender Affairs, Hon Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, wholeheartedly endorsed and co-championed the policy development, commenting, “As Minister of Gender Affairs, and as a working mother of three children, I’m beyond proud of the advancements this change to the Personnel Regulations will bring. This increased parental leave entitlement is a significant step forward in supporting families.  It recognises the value of parents spending critical time at home with their young children.”