VEOHRC Submission to Productivity Commission's Inquiry into Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave

The Commission has made a submission to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave. The submission supports the introduction of a statutory scheme to provide paid parental leave. This a long overdue and significant step in the realization of women’s human rights.

It is well understood that women’s workforce disadvantage is perpetuated through reduced workforce participation and loss of income associated with giving birth and fulfilling caring responsibilities. This inequity is exacerbated by pregnancy discrimination, which although unlawful still permeates some sectors of the economy. These issues go directly to human rights of Australian women at both international and domestic law. Gender inequity offends both equality before the law; freedom from discrimination, the right to just and favourable conditions of work and the right to an adequate standard of living.

In the submission, the Commission argues that statutory paid maternity and parental leave is an example of how human rights make good policy and business sense. Evidence from employers indicates that paid maternity leave (where it currently exists) results in a greater return to work rate. A statutory scheme has the capacity to translate this experience of skills retention more broadly. This will provide both equity and economic outcomes in the form of direct commercial benefits to employers and increased productivity across the economy.

Further, the provision of statutory paid parental leave will address a number of equally important policy objectives which are valuable to society as a whole. These include: recognizing the value of giving birth and raising children; promoting work and life balance and contributing to the health and wellbeing of children and families.

The Commission’s submission analyses the proposed statutory scheme and makes suggestions about how the scheme can be improved to produce better equity, human rights and social justice outcomes.

Download a copy of the submission: