December 7:  Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited (SCBNL) has announced ‘Enhanced Parental Leave Benefits’ for its employees as part of its commitment to fostering an equitable and inclusive culture.

Issuing a statement on Thursday, the bank said that its staff are eligible to avail a minimum of 20 weeks (140 calendar days) of paid Parental Leave – irrespective of gender, relationship status, or how a child comes to permanently join a family (ie adoption).

SCBNL claimed that it is the first bank in the country to introduce such benefits for all its employees, aimed at levelling the playing field by allowing them the ability to partake equally in caregiving responsibilities for their children.

“Accordingly, maternity, paternity, and adoption leave benefits (jointly referred to as ‘Parental Leave’) will be 140 calendar days,” reads the statement.

Rajan Udas, head of Human Resources at Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited (SCBNL) said, “Welcoming a child into a family is a momentous occasion and the bank wants to support colleagues through this key life event so that they can effectively balance both personal and professional priorities. We believe benefits such as this help address prevalent societal norms around traditional roles, improve workforce participation, and provide options to those who want to take up shared childcare responsibilities. This will positively impact families’ financial wellbeing and create a more inclusive workplace that supports everyone’s family planning choices.”