Congress passes Act to extend Maternity Leave for FSM Employees

PALIKIR, POHNPEI – November 22, 2021.  The 22nd Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia adjourned its Second Special Session on November 19, 2021 after 5 days of deliberation on nominations, appropriations, and legislation. The Congress adjourned sine die with the passage of the following congressional acts regarding; maternity leave for FSM employees, the FSM Constitutional Convention, and a supplemental budget for FY2022, among others.

For maternity leave, the Congress has extended maternity leave through congressional act CA 22-54 from 6 to 12 weeks with an additional amendment that would be applicable to all FSM personnel irrespective of employment status; whether permanent, on probation, of public service or exempt.

To provide supplemental funding for the legislative and executive branches, and for other purposes, the Congress passed congressional act CA 22-61 in the amount of $375,000 from the General Fund of the Federated States of Micronesia for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022.

CA 22-55 is an act to appropriate the sum of $350,000 from the General Fund of the FSM National Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, for the purpose of funding road improvements within the state of Pohnpei, and other purposes.

By recommendation and to assist the 4th FSM Constitutional Convention, the Congress passed CA 22-57 to amend Public Law 21-19 Section 6 by excluding Sundays from the definition of consecutive calendar days to allow three days for recess between the reconvening and adjournment of the 4th FSM ConCon.

The remaining Acts were for grass root level projects and social programs in the four states to make either changes to the use of funds previously appropriated or to make changes to the allottees of those funds.

Congress passed CA 22-56, CA 22-58 & CA 22-59and changed the use or allottee of certain funds previously appropriated for public projects and social programs for the people of the state of Pohnpei while CA 22-62 was for the same intent directed to the state of Yap. Specific to Chuuk State, for previous public projects and social programs for the people of the state, the Congress passed CA 22-60; and for the state of Kosrae we have CA 22-63 & CA 22-64.

All the Congressional Acts have been transmitted to the President to be signed into law.

 

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