Business News
Australia moves to paid maternity leave
May 10, 2009, 3:26 GMT
Sydney - The United States is set to become one of the last developed countries without paid maternity leave after Canberra announced Sunday that beginning January 2011 it would pay mothers for post-natal time off.
The rate would be the minimum wage for 18 weeks for those earning less than 150,000 Australian dollars (109,000 US dollars) a year.
Employers have welcomed a means-tested scheme in which the taxpayer will pick up the tab for post-natal time off.
'The means-testing of paid maternity leave is consistent with the need for fiscal caution and is supported by Ai Group - as too is the delay in its start date which will give time for businesses to prepare and understand the scheme,' Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) chief executive Heather Ridout said.
'Over time, it will prove to be another step in getting participation up in the economy.'
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Funny how the UK has done this for years and has a larger GDP than Australia, but I guess you could right it off as 'whinging'...
UK maternity leave entitlement = 39 weeks & 2 weeks paternity leave (fathers)
Aussie parental entitlement = 0 (18 weeks from 2011 at minimum wage, means tested) & 0 weeks paternity leave (fathers)
Come on Australia, keep up if you can!!!
page: 1
King Of LeaveMay 10th, 2009 - 12:27:23
This may be great for the pregnant women but must surely hurt all women eventually as far as winning jobs in the future. Who is going to do the work for the 18 weeks they are off. ? Wont this make the product more expensive by the firms that employ pregnant women. ? It Is no bloody wonder thousands of firms are going offshore, Like Bonds. Wake up sheeple, Australia may need you someday. This idea is idiotic and unproductive and costs thousands of jobs. Its no wonder the stock market has collapsed and China is booming.
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