Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months’ Paid Leave and Work Contact Hours) Amendment Bill.
The purpose of this bill is to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks. Family First NZ supports the intention of this bill, and would like it to go further to allow Paid Father’s Leave of 2-4 weeks as well.
Families are being penalised for having children. We believe that successive governments have undervalued mothers – and parenting in general. The political and policy focus has been on the needs of the economy, rather than on the welfare of children and the vital role of parents. In reality, this policy would represent about 0.2% of the total government spending, yet research shows that the role of mothers and the early bonding between mums and babies is vital for healthy child 
development. The role of parents during the crucial early years of a child should be acknowledged.
Families should not be pressured to return to work simply because of financial concerns, and the Parental Leave scheme and other family tax breaks such as Income Splitting and the removal of marriage penalty taxes should support and strengthen families with young children.
Submissions can be made by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/sc/make-submission/51SCGA_SCF_00DBHOH_BILL64527_1/parental-leave-and-employment-protection-six-months-paid
The closing date for submissions is Friday, 6 November 2015
More info http://26forbabies.org/ Family First is part of a coalition of organisations supporting this Bill
READ Family First’s Submission