New Zealand’s parliament has passed legislation for providing the right to mothers and their partners to get paid leave following a miscarriage or stillbirth. New Zealand has become the second country in the world to do so.
Key Points
- The bereavement allowance was unanimously passed in parliament on March 24.
- It gives employees a leave of three days when a pregnancy ends with a stillbirth without having to tap into sick leave.
- Labour Party MP Ginny Andersen initiated the bill and said that the passing of this bill once again shows that New Zealand is leading the way for progressive and compassionate legislation, becoming only the second country in the world to provide leave for miscarriage and stillbirth.
- The bill will provide the women and their partners needed time to come to terms with their loss without having to tap into sick leave. Because their grief is not a sickness, it is a loss. And loss takes time.
- The leave provisions will be applicable to mothers, their partners as well as parents planning to have a child through adoption or surrogacy.
- One in four New Zealand women has had a miscarriage.
India is the only other country that has similar legislation. New Zealand was the first country in the world to give voting rights to women and has been a pioneer on issues around woman’s rights. The ruling center-left Labour government is led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who is seen as a global champion for women. Her government last year passed a historic law to decriminalize abortion.