The Labour Party are set to launch a bill today to improve paid statutory leave and forced parental leave for workers who have been impacted by Covid-19.
It comes amid concern that parents may have to stay at home with their children when a school or early years provider is forced to close due to the virus.
It also follows fears that some workers with symptoms have not come forward for Covid-19 testing because they are unable to afford to take sick leave.
We are bringing forward a bill that will ensure that there will be a right to six weeks of paid sick leave into the future.
Labour leader Alan Kelly says people should not lose out financially if they are impacted by Covid-19: “We are bringing forward a bill that will ensure that there will be a right to six weeks of paid sick leave into the future.
“This will ensure any worker who has symptoms or who has Covid will be protected, and they will not feel the necessity to go into a work environment if they have symptoms or if they have suspected Covid.”
Mr Kelly says the party also want to introduce supports for parents whose children have been impacted by the virus: “We’re also bringing forward a parental leave component to the bill.
“This part of the bill will ensure where there are outbreaks in schools, that a parent will be entitled to time off, obviously because the kids won’t be going to school for possibly two weeks or more and parents will obviously have to look after them.”
