Social Security Minister Judy Martin’s revised family-friendly legislation, which will increase parental leave for new parents from 26 to 52 weeks and included six weeks paid leave for each, was approved by 38 votes to six by Members. The legislation also
applies to surrogate and adoptive parents.
The parental leave will be available in up to three blocks over a two-year period, and the six-week leave period will be mandatory without any conditions.
Social security contributions will also be increased for firms and high-earners to raise funds so that fathers can claim the parental allowance benefit, which is currently only available to mothers.
Mothers will also have enhanced breast-feeding rights, including the ability to request breaks and have access to facilities in the workplace.
Outlining her proposals, Deputy Martin said that Jersey was behind other jurisdictions in providing support for families.
‘We are having an average of 900 babies born each year. We are losing too many mums in our workforce and they need to be able to return to work when they and the baby are ready,’ she said.
‘We are so far behind with this. More women over 35 are wanting to have babies and we need to give them more flexibility.’
She added that the move would help close the gender pay gap, because new mothers would be able to go back to work in the same position they left.
An amendment, which was lodged by the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel, calling for maximum parental leave to be maintained at 26 weeks was blocked by 29 votes to 16.
Deputy Steve Luce and Rowland Huelin both withdrew amendments of their own aiming to support small businesses when the laws come in to effect, which is likely to be midway through next year.
Concerns about the impact of the legislation were voiced by several Members, including Deputy Kirsten Morel, who said that firms might struggle to recruit replacement employees for staff who take prolonged parental leave.
A further amendment lodged by Deputy Louise Doublet – to review the impact of the parental leave component of the laws 12 months after they are implemented – was also passed by Members by 41 votes to one.
