Labour blocking flexibility for paid parental leave

Stuff reports:

The Government intends to block moves from National that would amend its paid parental leave extension so both parents of a newborn could take leave together. 

Such a change could be detrimental to the baby, says Labour; If both parents were off at the same time, that would be a shortened total time spent on leave with that child, said Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway. 

But National spokeswoman for workplace relations and safety Amy Adams said her amendment was about flexibility and letting families choose what was right for them. 

Lees-Galloway doesn’t know what he is talking about. This is about paid leave, not total parental leave.

As someone who has just started a family, National’s proposal would be a Godsend for many families. We’re lucky as I work from home, but you have no idea how tough it is for (mainly) mothers to be looking after a new born by themselves after their partners return to work after a couple of weeks.

If both parents could take say 13 weeks paid leave each, rather than just one for 26 weeks, that would be hugely desirable for many families.

Others might choose not to. It is called flexibility.

Labour is saying that parents may make bad decisions and choose too short a time period away from work. What condescending crap.

Lees-Galloway said: “Our concern with that is the likelihood it would reduce the amount of time that baby has to bond with their primary caregiver. 

First of all most babies have two caregivers – we call them parents. It is important to bond with both of them. Secondly it just changes the paid leave, not the ability to still take up to 12 months total leave.

Adams said she could see no real reason why Labour would be opposed to giving new families greater flexibility. 

“It seems to me they’re embarrassed that they rushed this bill and there was no need to do it. This has been their policy for a long time and they still haven’t properly turned their mind to some of the important issues, like how paid parental leave works and how it can be made more flexible. 

“I think they are aware they have been caught out by not having the select committee process, dispensing with it, when actually there was plenty of time; the bill doesn’t take effect until July 1, next year.” 

Labour was being “dogmatic” in refusing to bend to a National Party amendment.

It’s just arrogance. They are just saying no because National proposed it.

Stacey Kirk notes:

Parenting 101 from your friendly Labour Government. 

New parents may relish the idea of both parents being home together, able to bond as a family in those first few weeks of a newborn’s life.

But the Government advises “no”, that’s not necessarily in the interests of your baby.

That’s why it intends to vote down a National Party amendment to the Government’s paid parental leave extension, that would let both parents take their paid leave together. 

Labour knows better than you how to raise your baby. You can’t be trusted to decide whether or not to take 26 weeks for one parent or say eight weeks for both parents and then a further 10 weeks for one.