Fed: 12-months paid maternity leave unlikely to be extended

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2001
Fed: 12-months paid maternity leave unlikely to be extended

Employer groups say a university's decision to offer 12-month paid maternity leave
is very generous but unlikely to extend to other businesses.

The Australian Catholic University's new maternity agreement offers women 12 weeks'
maternity leave on full pay, and 40 weeks' leave on 60 per cent pay.

Men will be entitled to three weeks' paid paternity leave.

But Australian Employers Federation director GARRY BRACK says the benefit is beyond
the capacity of most other employers.

Australian Industry Group (AIG) managing director BOB HERBERT agrees, describing the
agreement as unique.

And a National Tertiary Education Union spokeswoman says no other universities have
indicated they will be pushing for a similar maternity leave agreement.

The new agreement is likely to be in place before the end of the year, across the university's
campuses in Melbourne, Ballarat, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra.

AAP RTV jmw/gfr/pc/jn

KEYWORD: MATERNITY (MELBOURNE)

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