AR MP Fredrick Shitana welcomed the adjustments but questioned why men are left out regarding paternity leave.

"I think you did well by taking our contribution during the debate in this house, but you did not take them all. Men are still left out in these issues. When are they going to benefit like women in this case? So that is the question."

Justice Minister Wise Immanuel explained that Namibia does not currently have the statutory paternity leave entitlement.

Immanuel also noted that the International Labour Organisation does not have a convention specifically requiring member states to introduce or legislate for paternity leave.

"We do not have the statutory paternity leave entitlement in this country as yet, and it's for that reason that we do not have it as part of the statutory order that we have in place. So employers that are giving paternity leave to their employees are really doing it in terms of their own industrial policies. It's important to note that even at a level of ILO, we still do not have a convention compelling member states to introduce the paternity leave or to legislate the paternity leave, but it still doesn't take away from any legislative branch of the state to come up with such a law, should it be necessary."

However, he stressed that the absence of such an international obligation does not prevent a country from developing its own legislation on the matter.