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This could be fantastic.
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Parliament has adopted the Labour Laws Amendment Bill with the view to regulate the right of paternal leave.
A few things.
parental leave, adoption leave and commissioning parental leave. It also provides for the payment of parental benefits as well as commissioning parental benefits from the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
The Basic Conditions of Employment Act offers four months of maternity leave which is paid for by the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
The father of a child is allowed three days of family responsibility leave when a child is born – that leave is paid for by the employer.
It is the first time that a private members’ bill was adopted by the National Assembly. The bill was proposed by ACDP MP Cheryllyn Dudley but saw support across the political spectrum.
Fathers are allowed ten days leave under the new proposed bill. Parents who adopt will also be eligible for 10 weeks leave.
This bill could make South Africa one of the most progressive countries in the world in terms of paternity leave.
It is published in the Government Gazette for public comment and then referred to the relevant committee. It is debated in the relevant committees of Parliament and amended if necessary. If the Bill passes through both the NA and the NCOP, it goes to the President for assent (signed into law). Once it is signed by the President, it becomes an Act of Parliament and a law of the land.
This new law could make South Africa one of the more liberal countries with regards to paternity lave. Paternity leave globally swings wildly – from nothing, to a few days, a few weeks unpaid and South Korea which offers up to a year of paternity leave.