CTU Women’s Council Press Release

5 April 2012

Members Bill To Extend Paid Parental Leave Welcomed

CTU Women’s Council Co-convenor Suzanne McNabb welcomes the Members Bill to extend paid parental leave to six months and congratulates Labour’s Sue Moroney on having it pulled from the Ballot today.

Suzanne McNabb says “Paid Parental Leave has clearly not been a priority for this government to date, but is an issue of great importance for New Zealand women and unions. It is good news today that this Bill has been selected - we look forward to the opportunity to campaign behind the issue and to paid parental leave being back on the political agenda.”

“We know from a number of evaluations that 14 weeks PPL is too short. People are returning back to work early because of economic pressures and extending PPL would certainly remove some of these pressures and allow parents time with their newborn baby in those crucial first months. There are strong and proven health and employment reasons for having a longer paid parental leave. The goal of PPL is to support both maternal and health of the baby, but current length of paid leave in New Zealand doesn’t do this adequately.”

“New Zealand currently lagging behind the OECD in PPL entitlement – increasing it from 14 weeks to 26 would bring us into line with other OECD countries. The length of leave needs to be extended to at least to six months, which is the international recommendation on exclusive breast feeding.”

“This Members Bill provides opportunity for movement on the length of paid parental leave, for which there is very strong support, and provides the Government with opportunity to make some long overdue changes,” said Suzanne McNabb.

ENDS

© Scoop Media