28 March 2002
“A great step forward for women workers was taken this afternoon when paid parental leave became law,” said Council of
Trade Unions vice president Darien Fenton today.
“Achieving paid parental leave is a victory for all those women in unions and community groups who have fought long and
hard for it,” she said.
Darien Fenton said unions supported the focus of the bill on low-income workers who will be paid 100% of their previous
earnings.
“This approach clearly establishes paid parental leave as an employment right, just like holiday pay and sick leave."
However, Darien Fenton said unions would continue to campaign for a minimum of 14 weeks, set down by the ILO Convention
and to improve paid parental payments and to widen the eligibility criteria.
Ends