15 Nov 2017

Labour adamant paid parental leave stay with primary caregiver

From The Panel, 4:27 pm on 15 November 2017
Workplace Relations Minister Iain Lees-Galloway

Workplace Relations Minister Iain Lees-Galloway Photo: VNP / Daniela Maoate-Cox

The Panel discuss whether it is better to give couples the option of splitting their paid parental leave.

Labour is currently pushing through a bill under urgency to extend leave from 18 weeks to 22 in July next year, then up to 26 in 2020.

Workplace Relations Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said while the idea appeared at first glance to be a good one, his officials had advised him it could actually be detrimental.

"Two parents could have 13 weeks of paid leave together rather than 26 total," he said.