New Delhi, December 28: The Centre has issued an order that allows male employees of the central government, who are single parents to dependent children, to avail child care leave (CCL) of a total 730 days during their entire period of service, as per the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission or 7th CPC. Female central government employees are entitled to child care leave in three spells in a year.

The order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training defines 'single' male government employees as "an unmarried or widower or divorcee government servant". While the order grants child care leave to male staffers, it also introduced a cut in salary drawn for the latter half of the 730-day period. It means those male servants who will avail child care leave will get 100 per cent salary for the first 365 days and 80 per cent for the next 365. 7th Pay Commission: Maharashtra Government Employees to Get Fat Pay Hikes From January 1, 2019.

"A female government servant and single male government servant may be granted child care leave by an authority competent to grant leave for a maximum period of 730 days during entire service for taking care of two eldest surviving children, whether for rearing or for looking after any of their needs, such as education, sickness and the like," the DoPT order said. The 7th Pay Commission had recommended extending the benefit of child care leave to single male parents.

"The commission notes that in the event a male employee is single, the onus of rearing and nurturing the children falls squarely on his shoulders. Hence, extension of CCL to single male parents is recommended," the 7th Pay Commission had said in its report. The panel had also recommended a salary cut for the latter half of the 730-day period to prevent the misuse of the relief. The move indicates a shift from the existing belief that women are the principal caregivers for children.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 28, 2018 12:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).