New Zealand has passed legislation giving mothers and their partners the right to paid leave following a miscarriage or stillbirth, becoming only the second country in the world to do so. The NZ Parliament on late Wednesday passed the bereavement grant, unanimously. The legislation provides employees three days leave when a pregnancy ends with a stillbirth, without having to tap into sick leave.
Labour Party MP Ginny Andersen, who initiated the bill said, “The passing of this bill shows that once again New Zealand is leading the way for progressive and compassionate legislation, becoming only the second country in the world to provide leave for miscarriage and stillbirth.”
“The bill will give women and their partners time to come to terms with their loss without having to tap into sick leave. Because their grief is not a sickness, it is a loss. And loss takes time.”
The leave provisions apply to mothers and their partners, as well as parents planning to have a child through adoption or surrogacy, she said.
Ms Anderson in a statement said one in four New Zealand women have had a miscarriage.
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India is the only other country with similar legislation, the media reported.
NZ was the first country in the world to give voting rights to women and has been a pioneer on issues around women's rights.
NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is seen as a global campaigner for women's rights. Historic legislation was passed by her government last year that decriminalise abortion.