It follows a push from a Sydney woman whose employer cancelled her paid parental leave after her six-week-old baby died.
The Opposition has expressed support for the bill, which needs to pass Parliament to go into effect.
Paid parental leave
Employees can get paid parental leave (PPL) payments from both their employer and the Government after a birth or adoption.
The Government gives parents 24 weeks of minimum wage payments. Parents need to have worked consistent hours and complete an income test to prove their eligibility for the payment.
Employers can also give their employees PPL, which can vary depending on companies’ policies and contracts.
Bill
The bill would make it illegal for companies to cancel PPL payments if a baby is stillborn or dies.
Currently, Government-funded PPL is not cancelled if a baby dies, while employer-funded PPL can be.
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The bill came about after a Sydney woman – who has chosen to remain anonymous – initiated a Change.org petition to change the law.
Her workplace cancelled her PPL after her baby died aged six weeks.
Comments
In a post to Instagram, Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said: “Parents should not have to deal with uncertainty about their employer-funded paid parental leave entitlements on top of their grief.”
Shadow Employment Minister Tim Wilson told TDA: “When families experience the devastating loss of an infant, clocking in to work should be the last thing on their mind”.
“This is an important step to ensure compassion and dignity are afforded to grieving parents.”
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