Govt publishes new legislation to improve parental leave
The Department of Justice has published new legislation designed to improve parental leave provisions.
Under the proposed Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill, the maximum age of the eligible child would rise from five years to eight years and to 16 years in the case of children with disabilities.
Leave entitlements would also be extended to parental guardians, while workers would be entitled to take their 14 weeks' parental leave in separate blocks of six continuous weeks or on more favourable terms subject to agreement with their employer.
In addition, an employee who fell ill while on parental leave and was unable to care for the child as a result would be allowed to suspend the leave for the duration of the illness.
