Sydney
4 August 2002
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Pope tells young: Don’t be put off by priests’ sins
Papal honour to war rape heroine
Stem-cell research
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Maternity leave focus may cloud other issues
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Comment: Stem-cell research? Surplus or not, it’s a matter of life and death for embryos
Education: Freedom to have a happy childhood
Inspirations: Mercy Sisters open up Sacred Spaces
Maternity leave focus may cloud other issues
By Kathleen Carmody
The focus on paid maternity leave may lead to other issues of work and family being overlooked or forgotten says the Australian Catholic Commission for Employment Relations.
In a submission to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission inquiry into paid maternity leave, it says the discussion should move beyond the parameters of paid maternity leave for employees to a “comprehensive examination of the current and future measures necessary for families to be supported”.
It is the responsibility of government to assist families irrespective of employment status, the Catholic body says.
The discussion must recognise the role of the ‘primary care giver’.
John Ryan, executive officer of the Commission for Employment Relations, told The Catholic Weekly he is not opposed to maternity leave but feels that the issue requires closer examination.
“What we’re saying is: ‘Let’s have a careful look at what needs to be introduced, whether the best way of assisting families is paid maternity leave or some other form of assistance’,” he said.
The Employment Relations Commission would be in favour of a ‘universal assistance scheme’ for families, looking beyond women in the workforce.
“Our first principle is to assist families irrespective of whether people may be in paid employment,” Mr Ryan said.
“We’re concerned that, if the emphasis is totally on paid maternity leave, other issues of work or family may be overlooked or forgotten.
“You might have some work places where the demographic is such that maternity leave would only apply to a minority, so for the rest of the workplace finding that work and family balance may be in other areas.”
The Employment Relations Commission recommends that family assistance payments, including the Federal Government’s controversial ‘baby bonus’, be critically examined.
“(Such an examination) may lead to new thinking about the government support required to assist in meeting the potentially diverse needs of families,” Mr Ryan says.
The commission contends that paid maternity leave places too much emphasis on monetary provisions as the solution to the family-work predicament.
Some suggestions for family-friendly alternatives include flexibility in return to work arrangements, unpaid childrearing leave, training and retraining, flexible working day and times and child care arrangements.
“When kids get to kindergarten or school age, maternity leave doesn’t help them,” Mr Ryan says.
“You need to look at other flexibilities in terms of being able to change your hours at work or being able to get away at short notice.
“It’s not necessarily a direct cost but it would assist (parents) in that balance.”
The Catholic body was not opposed to paid maternity leave, he said. “We’re just saying: ‘Let’s have a good look at this issue and take a long-term approach’.”