Optimism over paid parental leave bill

24 July 2015

NZEI Te Riu Roa has welcomed the news that a Member's Bill to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks is back before parliament.

Labour MP Sue Moroney has had a second bill for increased leave drawn from the ballot and since Winston Peters’ win in Northland, it has a very good chance of success.

Virginia Oakly from the NZEI Early Childhood National Caucus said it was important that parents be able to spend those first few months at home with their babies and give them the best possible start in life.

Ms Moroney’s bill would lift leave to 26 weeks and allow parents to work for up to 156 hours during that period without losing leave payments.

On July 1 the Government increased paid parental leave from 14 to 16 weeks. It will increase by another two weeks next year.

NZEI Te Riu Roa is a member of the 26 for Babies Coalition – a group of organisations campaigning to increase paid parental leave.

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