ALL primary carer New South Wales public sector employees given 14 weeks of paid parental leave

All New South Wales public sector employees who are primary carers will soon be able to access 14 weeks of paid parental leave in the first year of their baby’s life.

Previously, public sector employees were entitled to up to 14 weeks paid parental leave only if they were the mother, or up to one week paid leave if they were the ‘other’ parent.

‘This is a huge win for the parents of NSW and for gender equity,’ Public Service Association NSW General Secretary Stewart Little said on Wednesday.

All New South Wales public sector employees who are primary carers will soon be able to access 14 weeks of paid parental leave in the first year of their baby’s life (stock image)

‘This gives families more choice about how they’ll care for their new child.

‘It also means women will be able to more readily return to work once they’re ready, knowing that the other parent also has access to paid parental leave.’

Public Sector Industrial Relations advised the union last week that from July it would expand the NSW public sector parental leave entitlement to include two further categories.

One covers the birth or primary parent at the time of birth, adoption or surrogacy, and the ‘other parent’ who has primary responsibly for the care of the child not at the time of the birth, adoption of surrogacy.

The ‘other parent’ will also be able to access two weeks paid leave at the time of birth and an additional 12 weeks paid leave, which can be taken at 24 weeks half pay, in the first 12 months of the baby’s life.

‘There is no silver bullet to addressing gender inequality in our workplaces. But universal parental leave paves the way for significant cultural shift,’ Mr Little said.’

Previously, public sector employees were entitled to up to 14 weeks paid parental leave only if they were the mother, or up to one week paid leave if they were the ‘other’ parent (stock image)