Media Release
May 11 2009
Paid parental leave welcomed
One
of Australia’s leading researchers in work and family has welcomed the
Rudd Government’s announcement of a national system of paid parental
leave.
Professor Barbara Pocock, Director of UniSA’s
Centre
for Work + Life, said the announcement of 18 weeks paid parental
leave was an important step forward.
“It will especially help low income workers and women, many of whom lack
access to any form of pay when they have a baby,” she said.
“It is a pity that women will miss out on superannuation support and
that paid paternity leave is not included, but this is a major step in
the right direction.”
Prof Pocock said the government is to be congratulated on its decision
to avoid deferring this measure.
“A range of excuses have been employed for decades to avoid government
support for paid maternity leave. While the economic times are
difficult, the timing of this decision will give business and government
time to sort out the payment system, and babies and families will begin
benefiting from the beginning of January 2011,” she said.
“Support for workers to reproduce themselves is a basic kind of economic
and social infrastructure, one that is long overdue in an advanced
country like Australia.
“The research case is unequivocal. This is an important economic, labour
market and social measure that will reap dividends on all fronts.”
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- Kelly Stone office (08) 8302 0963 mobile 0417 861 832 email kelly.stone@unisa.edu.au