Increased paternity leave, decrease maternal distress

In June 2016, Ahmad Zaini and Adi Nugroho created a petition that asked the Indonesian House of Representatives to increase paternity leave from 2 days to 2 weeks. Law No. 13 of 2003 on Manpower mandated two days of paid paternity leave for the birth of a child or in the case of miscarriage. Zaini and Nugroho, the founders of the fathers' movement known as 'Ayah Ada' aimed to improve the Indonesian parenting ecosystem by implementing better policies through their petition.

This petition that was made on 2016 International Father’s Day, got 32,112 supporters, and went nowhere. Regrettably, Irgan Mahfiz, a senator from the House of Representatives, argued that paternity leave is unusual and unnecessary. “It is western people’s tradition. Do not bring it to Indonesia,” said Mahfiz. What a shame. 

Fast forward to date: Indonesia has recently enacted new legislation, known as UU Kesehatan Ibu dan Anak, which focuses on maternal and child welfare during the first 1,000 days of a child's life. The law, known as Law No. 4 of 2024, came into effect in July 2024. Generally, the law includes maternity and paternity leave, workplace support for working mothers, and employment protection against dismissal.

The law aims not only to achieve a better-quality life for mothers and children but also to promote gender equality by encouraging men to play a greater role in caregiving. Ironically, it is not walking the talk. Article 6 of the law states that male employees or husbands are entitled to two days of paternity leave at the time of the birth of a child and may be extended by up to three days or as agreed. In fact, the draft proposed a 40-day paternity leave. This law does not differ from the previous 2003 Manpower Law. The law does not generate a more favorable situation than it did before.

Imagine you walk alone to an unfamiliar road. You might be scared. You might be unsure about everything. You might be loosed completely. It is more lookalike mothers’ journey. Despite the resources and knowledge available, the journey remains unknown. Physical and emotional changes, starting with pregnancy, affect the whole being and identity of mothers.

When mothers lost, it could be the beginning of maternal distress in postpartum. Postpartum depression, psychosis, baby blues, and anxiety could be signs of this maternal distress. Moreover, the distress is associated with an increased risk for adverse emotional development in infants, including with emotion regulation (Bezanson et al., 2023).

In 2018, the Indonesia Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) found that the prevalence of emotional and behavioral illnesses among children was 9.6%. Another finding from the Indonesia National Adolescent Mental Health Survey (2022) supports this data. They identified 1 in 3 Indonesian teenagers (aged 10–17 years old) as having mental health conditions. The effects of maternal distress are interconnected. Biologically, mothers, as the source of children's lives, have a significant impact on their lives even before they are born. If the mother loses her way, the children might also lose theirs.

Thus, a partner such as a husband presents not only could ease that unfamiliar, challenging road but also to develop children’s emotional security and self-esteem as well as create a lifelong bond with the child. On top of it, break the social norms that: (a) caregiving is mother's mandate, (b) parents are mother and father (in this context for heterogenous couple). 

A longitudinal study on grade 4 students found a higher level of aggression in boys who only lived with mothers. As cited from Ashari (2018), this research indicates that boys who do not receive parenting from their fathers tend to grow up as vulnerable individuals, exhibiting low commitment and high levels of aggression.

In terms of couple relationships, McKinsey (2021) found that approximately 90% of men reported an improvement in their relationship with their partner after taking paternity leave. It's not just about dividing household tasks but also about providing emotional support and being present during the early days of caregiving.

Furthermore, another study proved that 20.6% of single mothers experienced postpartum depression compared to 11.5% of cohabitating mothers (Agnafors et al., 2019). The fully present fathers, especially in the critical and early phases of the baby, can provide a stress-free environment for the mother and the baby. In short, do not let your child become a fatherless kid.

Law 4/2024 significantly improves the welfare of Indonesian families. However, there is still significant room for improvement, particularly when it comes to making fathers an imperative part of the regulation. Fathers are more than financial providers. We should reconsider the regulation of paternity leave. Start simple. Two days are not enough. Indonesia can learn from the generous paternity leave policies of European countries like Finland, Estonia, and Portugal. Let's look at the neighbors if it's still not feasible. Malaysia has 7 days, Vietnam 5–14 days, and the Philippines 14 days. 

On the other hand, if the proposed 40-day leave remains unattainable, the government could consider a closer sample and aspiration, similar to Zaini and Nugroho's petition from a few years ago. They requested a two-week paternity leave. They urged that the government mandate the provision of official paid leave for employers. They firmly believe that a strong nation begins with improved parenting and education, starting from the early stages of a baby's development, as they are integral parts of the future citizen. Furthermore, the government and its constituents should demonstrate a strong political will to implement these changes. This is not such a Western culture. This issue affects everyone, regardless of their culture or background. Our goal extends beyond merely reducing maternal distress. For our family welfare. For a better nation.