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Aceh Maternity Leave Policy

Indonesia's Aceh province, which has gained international infamy for its strict Islamic laws, won rare praise from rights activists for introducing the country's most generous maternity leave policy. The decision to give female civil servants six months' maternity leave, double the typical amount elsewhere in the country, is an unusual move in a province routinely criticised for breaching women's rights. There are canings for people caught gambling, drinking alcohol, spending time with members of the opposite sex outside of marriage and having gay sex. The Aceh governor decided to introduce the policy last month to ensure women have the chance to breastfeed to combat widespread stunting caused by malnutrition, said local government spokesman Frans Dellian. It applies to around 92,000 female civil servants in the province. Employees will be paid for the first three months although the law is not clear on what happens in the final months. Activists say there has been a rapid growth in Islamic regulations since a peace deal was struck in 2005.

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