Policy that allows parents to choose how they split 20 weeks of leave criticised as a ‘step backwards’
Changes designed to make paid parental leave more flexible have been labelled a “step backwards for gender equality” by experts as they create a disincentive for fathers to share caring responsibilities.
“Despite the government saying either parent could share the leave … Actually, that’s a disincentive because the majority of women are on lower wages than men,” O’Neil said. Dr Leonora Risse, an economics lecturer from RMIT University and the national chair of the Women in Economics Network, said the paid parental leave flexibility was “a step backwards for gender equality”.
“Extending the amount of use-it-or-lose-it paid parental leave for fathers would have been more effective in supporting more men to be a part of their children’s upbringing and more women to extend their workforce participation.”
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