Families Commission wants 13 months paid parental leave

The Families Commission says the government’s parental leave policy should be extended so that more people are eligible for more support.

Paid parental leave was introduced by the government in 2002 and currently gives parents 14 weeks paid leave, job protection for a year after giving birth, and two weeks unpaid leave for fathers.

But a new report from the Families Commission says that while the government is moving in the right direction New Zealand still lags behind the rest of the developed world. The report recommends moving to 13 months paid parental leave by 2015 and a month’s paid leave for fathers.

Families commissioner Rajen Prasad says extending parental leave will benefit families, children, employers and workplaces, and would show that the role of parenting is valued by society.

“Parents need time to bond with a new baby without worrying about money or their career prospects. They need real choice about when to go back to work, and who will take time out of the workforce to care for the baby.

“Families tell us that having a baby and trying to live on one income is extremely difficult at a time when their household costs are increasing. Financial pressure is the main reason why many mothers do not take up their full year of job-protection leave. Our recommendations will help make this transition easier.”

Minister of Labour Ruth Dyson has welcomed the recommendations. “I am pleased the Families Commission report into paid parental leave has sparked a nationwide debate,” she said. “Research has shown New Zealand parents have benefited from our Labour-led government's paid parental leave scheme and are eager to contribute ideas to improve and extend the scheme.”

National says it is still “discussing” whether it will support extending paid parental leave, however the party has consistently voted against instituting or extending paid parental leave, and in 2001 described it as “driven by '70s feminist union ideology rather than by the real needs of women in the 21st century.”

The Families Commission’s report can be downloaded at http://www.familiescommission.govt.nz/files/parental-leave.pdf