Minister for Employment, Jone Usamate says the new leave provisions under the Employment Relations (Budget Amendment) Act will take effect from January 1st next year.
Usamate says these are Family Care Leave and Parental Leave which includes Paternity Leave and the increase in Maternity Leave days.
He says Family Care Leave is taken by workers who wish to provide care and support to members of the worker’s immediate family or a member of the worker’s household.
Usamate says the worker is entitled to Family Care Leave of not less than 5 working days during each year of service.
The Employment Minister says Family Care Leave must not be accumulated and unused Family Care Leave will automatically lapse in the next year.
Usamate states that the Family Care Leave is applicable to workers that have completed more than 3 months continuous service with the same employer.
He says for Paternity Leave, a worker is entitled to not less than 5 working days.
Usamate says taking time out of paid work to care for a child is part of the usual course of life and work for parents, and promotes a balance between work and family life.
The Maternity Leave increase from 84 days to 98 days will also take effect from January 1st, 2019.
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