Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a Bill that today passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child.
The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning.
“It includes a change that will help people who have taken on the care of a child unexpectedly,” said Ms van Velden.
“Currently people are required to stop working when they become a primary carer to access parental leave payments.
“For example, a man and his partner were informally looking after a child and when final parenting orders were made, he resigned from his job to be the primary carer for the child and gave his six weeks’ notice.
“This man was declined parental leave payments because he did not take parental leave, or stop working, from the date he became the child’s primary carer.
“This is a small, technical change that will make a huge impact on affected Kiwi families and diverse parenting arrangements e.g. caring for extended family. This change can be made now to improve the scheme and remove unnecessary and unintended stress for people who find themselves in this situation,” says Ms van Velden.
The Bill makes other changes to health and safety law that fix problems with legislation, clarify unclear provisions, and ensure provisions are fit for purpose, the Minister said.
“I want to make sure businesses and organisations are focused on addressing the things that cause harm to workers. They should not be caught up in unnecessary steps or trying to interpret and navigate complex or perplexing health and safety rules and regulations.”
“That is why I am undergoing a wide-ranging public consultation on health and safety, to see where the issues lie.
“In the meantime, this Bill clears up some of the existing legislative provisions, which is necessary to ensure efficient regulatory systems.
“Collectively, these small changes will make it easier for Kiwi families to understand the law and comply with government requirements,” she said.
