The Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) has issued a Memorandum outlining a new parental leave entitlement which came into effect last week (1 July), offering paid leave for NSW public sector employees who experience a miscarriage or pre-term birth.
In its Memorandum M2021-11 Paid Leave in the Event of a Miscarriage or Pre-Term Birth, DPC said the new entitlement would help families balance work and family life, and supported women in the workforce.
“Where an employee or the spouse of an employee miscarries, the employee is entitled to five days paid special miscarriage leave on each occasion a pregnancy ceases by way of miscarriage up to 20 weeks’ gestation,” DPC said.
“Leave as defined above will commence from the date the miscarriage occurs and is to be taken in one continuous block of leave,” it said.
“Paid special miscarriage leave must not be taken with any other form of leave available to the employee.”
DPC said that under the new entitlement, where an employee or the spouse of an employee gave birth to a pre-term child (prior to 37 weeks), the parent with primary caring responsibility was entitled to 36 weeks’ paid special pre-term parental leave from the child’s date of birth.
The Department said the special pre-term leave was in addition to the 14 weeks of paid parental leave available to NSW Government employees, which wouldn’t commence until 37 weeks after the birth of the child.
“These leave provisions are to be adopted by all Public Service Departments and Agencies, and other Government Sector Agencies and State-Owned Corporations are strongly encouraged to provide the same leave provision to their employees,” it said.
DPC’s Memorandum M2021-11 can be viewed online at this PS News link.
