Proposed Neonatal care pay and leave

Last month, the proposed Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill underwent a second reading in parliament.

The bill suggests changing existing maternity, paternity and adoption leave by giving more paid time off to parents with newborn children who need to spend more than seven consecutive days in hospital during the first four weeks of their life.

If passed, the Bill will greatly benefit working mums and dads who understandably want to be with their child during this worrying time, but don’t want to use their annual leave or sick leave to do so. We think this is a positive step that will add increased flexibility to existing parental leave laws and take the pressure off both employees and employers in difficult circumstances