Thousands of Aussies to get extra leave
Written by admin on July 26, 2024
Tens of thousands of Queenslanders are set to receive up to 10 days extra leave under plans unveiled by the state government.
However the new leave can be used for reproductive care.
It means people undergoing IVF treatments, getting care for conditions like endometriosis and severe menopause and having mastectomies sand hysterectomies will be able to dip in to the new leave entitlements.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles said the announcement was “historic”.
“Today, we make history again with the announcement that some of the best workplace entitlements in the nation will be extended to even more Queensland workers”.
New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory also have reproductive leave but only half the number of days as Queensland. Other states and territories have none.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is pushing for reproductive leave to be made mandatory across Australia but the Federal Government is pushing back.
The reproductive leave entitlement is already available for people employed directly by the Queensland Government.
In May, the government announced the initial stage of the reproductive health leave initiative and said it would cover 265,000 staff directly employed by the state.
It will now be extended to Queensland government owned corporations, Queensland Rail and Seqwater.
The 10 days will be annual and will not roll over into following years.
The program was estimated to cost $80 million.
Workers will receive 10 days of leave for reproductive health and have superannuation contributions paid on parental leave – paid and unpaid.
The government said the 10 days reproductive health leave will be effective by 30 September 2024.
Reproductive leave is not enshrined in law so Queensland’s move is beyond its legal obligations to employees.
Employer groups are sceptical of the leave being specifically for reproductive heath and have said that health issues are already covered under personal leave entitlements.
In June, workplace relations minister Tony Burke indicated the Federal Government was not keen either saying: “ACTU policy and ALP policy have always been different”.
“The major changes we intend to make (to employment law) are already law and making a difference with more secure jobs and better pay”.
But Mr Miles said Queensland’s move was a positive step.
“I always want Queensland’s incredible public sector to shine as an employer of choice and I hope to see other organisations follow our lead when it comes to backing the health and equity of workers,”
“This is both about improving pay equity for women in the workforce and supporting the health and wellbeing of the workers who make this state a better place.”
