Nepal, April 23 -- The Federal Civil Service Bill now includes provisions for maternity leave for female employees during pregnancy.

This proposal for maternity leave was advanced by Dr Chanda Karki Bhattarai, a member of parliament from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and has been incorporated into the Federal Civil Service Bill currently in the State Affairs Committee.

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According to Nepali Congress MP Dilendra Prasad Badu, an agreement has been reached on providing leave for women after pregnancy. He said that the provision will be made to grant such leave by deducting it from the maternity leave granted after childbirth.

The Civil Service Regulations provide that female civil servan...