The Effects of Maternity Policy on Women’s Fertility Decisions from the Islamic Perspective: An Exploratory Study

The changing roles of women today from traditionalfamily caregivers to multitasking financial providersrequire specific protection to preserve their naturalrole as mothers. Such protection which include jobsecurity, health, maternity leave, maternity benefits,and others are to ensure that women are able tobalance multiple roles. Pressures on any of theirroles may adversely affect society and the economyin terms of labour market, when expectant mothersgo off-ramping or when women choose to exercisetheir fertility decision-making. Many studies indicatea negative relationship between maternity policyand fertility which proves that women need supportto serve both functions. There is also a difference interms of the maternity policies between developedand developing countries which indicates a diverse approach in addressing the issue even thoughboth face the same declining fertility rate problem.Islam does not object to the idea of career womenin general. However, a set of guidelines has to befollowed to preserve the sharīʿah. Among others,Islam promotes the maternal nature of women byencouraging them to continue breastfeeding whenthey are on-ramping. Thus, this paper intendsto assess the fertility decisions made based on thewomen’s understanding of their firm’s maternitypolicy by conducting survey interviews. Eventhough the study finds that maternity policy does notdirectly affect the fertility decisions of the womeninvolved, there are still recommendations to bemade to improve current maternity policy practicesby firms in general to promote a healthier workingenvironment for women.