FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1987
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BILL TO IMPROVE MATERNITY LEAVE PROPOSED
FROM
BILL
PREGNANT WORKERS WILL BE GIVEN GREATER PROTECTION DISMISSAL DUE SOLELY TO PREGNANCY IF THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) 1987, PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S (FRIDAY) GAZETTE, IS PASSED INTO LAW.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT SOME 30,000 FEMALE WORKERS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE NEW LAW ANNUALLY.
PROTECTED
UNDER THE EXISTING LEGISLATION, A FEMALE EMPLOYEE IS FROM BEING DISMISSED AFTER SHE HAS GIVEN NOTICE TO HER EMPLOYER, WITHIN 12 WEEKS PRIOR TO HER EXPECTED DATE OF CONFINEMENT, THAT SHR INTENDS TO TAKE MATERNITY LEAVE.
HOWEVER, ALLEGATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FROM TIME ΤΟ TIME THAT PREGNANT EMPLOYEES ARE DISMISSED BEFORE THEY FALL WITHIN THE 12-WEEK PROTECTION PERIOD.
THE NEW BILL, THEREFORE, PROPOSES TO ENABLE A FEMALE WORKER ΤΟ SERVE NOTICE OF HER INTENTION TO TAKE MATERNITY LEAVE ONCE HER PREGNANCY HAS BEEN CERTIFIED BY A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER.
THIS WILL ALSO ENABLE THE EMPLOYER то MAKE THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS TO COVER FOR HER ABSENCE.
THE BILL ALSO MAKES IT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FEMALE WORKER TO INFORM HER EMPLOYER AS SOON AS IS PRACTICABLE IF HER PREGNANCY HAS CEASED OTHERWISE THAN BY REASON OF DELIVERY OF A CHILD.
ANOTHER PROPOSAL IS THAT A FEMALE WORKER SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO GIVE NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT DURING HER MATERNITY LEAVE, JUST AS AN EMPLOYER IS PROHIBITED UNDER THE LEGISLATION FROM TERMINATING THE EMPLOYMENT OF A FEMALE DURING THIS PERIOD.
EXISTING
EMPLOYEE
THE PROPOSALS WERE ENDORSED BY THE LABOUR ADVISORY MARCH THIS YEAR.
BOARD IN
THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS ON JULY 1.
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