12th April 2012

Shutting down debate on paid parental leave short-sighted

The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa says extending paid parental leave would be a meaningful way to invest in children and families, and government attempts to shut down debate on the issue is short-sighted.

The government says it will veto a bill put forward by Labour MP Sue Moroney which proposes to increase paid parental leave from 14 weeks to 26.

NZEI says the bill is a sensible and long overdue measure to bring New Zealand families up to speed with those in most other OECD countries including Australia.

The latest OECD data shows that New Zealand spent proportionately less than any other OECD country on parental leave in 2007 - only 5 percent of national income per person for each new baby, compared with an OECD average of 29.5 percent.

The financial cost of extending paid parental leave could also be offset by the resulting reduction in subsidies to early childhood education services.

NZEI National Executive member Hayley Whitaker says early childhood teachers strongly support parents being able to spend more time with their babies because they know how important it is for children to form strong bonds with their parents.

“We know that the current limit of 14 weeks paid leave means that many families suffer financial stress, and feel they have no choice but to return to the workforce before they are ready to. They also then face the challenge of finding high quality, affordable care for their babies,” she says.

“I am sure most early childhood teachers would see supporting parents to stay home with young babies as more important than getting government subsidies when those parents have to rush back to work reluctantly for financial reasons”.

Extending paid parental leave would help give all New Zealand children a better start in life, which in turn improves their chances of educational success down the track. It is supported by a wide range of child advocacy groups including the Families Commission and the Commissioner for Children in its 2011 report into childcare for under –twos.

Hayley Whitaker says “any government move to veto Sue Moroney’s bill is undemocratic and shutting down much-needed parliamentary and public debate on the issue is short-sighted in terms of investing in our children’s future”.

ENDS

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