Paid Parental Leave In Australia

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Australia
In Australia, the history of gaining paid parental leave is not new. The fight has been going on since 1919, when the International Labor Organization (ILO) enacted the maternity protection convention. This is the convention concerning the employment of women before and after childbirth.
In the early 2000s, Australia parental leave policy stated, “Any part-time and full-time employees who work at least 12 months with their employers, have a minimum entitlement to 52 weeks of unpaid parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child (Australian Human Rights Commission).” Employees had assurance that their job was safe if they took the entire 52 weeks. However, Australia was one of two Organizations for Economic Co-Operation …show more content…

Australia implemented a national paid “parental leave” that applies to both men and women. This policy allows men and women the job security they need to care for their newborn or complete an adoption. Employees are allowed paid parental leave from the Australia government or through their employer. The primary caregiver of the newborn or adopted child is allowed 18 weeks of paid leave at the national minimum wage ($622.00/ weekly, $15.55 for a 40-hour workweek). In addition, parents are allowed to have 52 weeks of unpaid parental leave. The 52 weeks are consistent with the 18 weeks paid maternity leave. Meaning, if the parents decide to use the 18 weeks of paid parental leave, they have 34 weeks of unpaid …show more content…

The baby bonus is fairly new in Australia, started in March of 2014; it’s a tax benefit for new parents. This policy was implemented due to the financial loss parents face following the arrival of a child. It is a family tax benefit for the child, disregarding the family income for that year. In order to qualify for the baby bonus tax, “your family adjusted income has to be $75k or less in the six months after your child is born or adopted (DSH.gov/au).”
The baby bonus provides a tax refund for the first five years of a child’s birth or adoption. The maximum payment that a family can receive is $2500. The estimate of the payment is based on the earnings that the mother brings home prior to having a baby. If the mother decides not to return to work, then that’s when they’ll receive the maximum allotment. The amount decreases based on the income of the mother once she returns to work. It’s also important to note that if you choose to receive the baby bonus, you cannot receive the 18 weeks of paid

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