Congé de maternité prolongé : Le cadeau empoisonné du Président Faye pour les femmes salariées ?
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye recently expressed his intention to extend maternity leave. While this announcement has been met with immense joy by many women, it has also stirred deep-seated anxieties. In the private sector, protecting pregnant employees remains a major challenge, as evidenced by numerous accounts of disguised dismissals and precarious employment.
The relief felt by mothers in the face of the reality of postpartum
For working women, this reform addresses a physiological and organizational need. Mariama Kouyaté (not her real name), in her thirties, doesn't hide her enthusiasm: "I welcome this news with great enthusiasm because motherhood is very difficult, and two months isn't enough, not only to recover, but also to leave a newborn at home or in daycare to return to work. Mothers generally go to sleep late or don't sleep at all at night because newborns often spend the night awake or even crying."
When pregnancy becomes grounds for contract termination
However, behind this social progress lies a professional risk. Mariama recounts her own bitter experience, illustrating the mistrust of some employers: "Many employers believe that when a woman is on maternity leave it slows down the company's productivity. I, at least, experienced this firsthand."
When she informed her boss of her condition, he used an upcoming trip as a pretext to end their collaboration. "I immediately understood that he wanted to avoid giving me my paid maternity leave, and time proved me right. Later, I learned that he was still in Senegal, calmly managing his business... And yet, I continued to do my job well, fulfilling it rigorously, even though I felt very tired due to the hormonal changes."
A system of silent dismissals denounced by feminists
This case is far from isolated. Mame Diarra Faye, a mother of three, testifies to the repeated occurrence of these abuses in otherwise reputable companies: “At the end of my maternity leave after my first two pregnancies, I wasn't contacted by my bosses. After my third pregnancy, however, I was called back, but I wasn't compensated because my employment contract still hasn't been regularized after five years.” She is now advocating for the continuation of the two postnatal months of leave coupled with an increase in breastfeeding hours.
Feminist activist Mame Sira Konaté therefore calls for vigilance: "This is good news, but let's hope it doesn't become a trap for women because we've heard of several women being fired after their pregnancy became known. We need to be very careful and properly regulate this law before it is enacted."
A reminder to the Human Resources experts to be in line
Faced with these abuses, Ahmadou Diagne, a Human Resources specialist at Albert Royer Hospital, reiterates the strict legal framework: "Maternity leave suspends the employment contract, which means that the social security fund replaces the employer and pays the woman's maternity and sickness benefits."
According to him, the extension should have no direct financial impact on the company. "During a period of suspension of the employment contract, we cannot take dismissal measures. Where we can initiate discussions is regarding the organization and continuity of service."
In cases of abuse, the expert urges victims not to remain silent: "If, through lack of consideration, the employer unfairly dismisses the expectant mother, then she must file a complaint with the labor inspectorate. An extension of maternity leave should be accompanied by legislation that protects all pregnant women and expectant mothers from unfair dismissal."
![[EXCLUSIF] Réseau de voleurs démantelé à Colobane : 500 téléphones, 33 tablettes et des ordinateurs saisis par la SR et le GIGN, 23 arrestations](https://image.seneweb.com/content/news/2026-22-30//thumb_1260x800_6a1b6ac9bcdc7_zf1U3G3p2i.jpg)
Commentaires (14)
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté :
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter, TikTok ou Instagram pour l'afficher automatiquement.