The Social Services Select Committee recently reported back on the Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Paid Parental Leave) Amendment Bill. The Bill received a second reading in Parliament on 21 March 2002.
The main aspects of the Bill are as follows:
employees may receive a maximum of $325 gross per week for up to 12 weeks for parental leavethe payment is funded out of general taxationpaid leave may be claimed by one parent, or shared between two eligible partnersthe payment applies to births due, babies delivered or adopted on or after 1 July 2002paid leave is primarily available for birth mothers who have been employed by the same employer for more than 12 months and have worked an average of 10 hours per week, although where a child is adopted the adoptive parents can choose which eligible parent will take the paid leave.
Employees who are entitled to paid parental leave, under their employment agreements, will not have their entitlement reduced by the proposed statutory entitlements, unless they agree otherwise.
This is a general summary only and should not be taken as a substitute for specific advice.
For further information please contact Andrea Lawton, solicitor
andrea.lawton@phillipsfox.com
Web site: Phillips Fox